This year's Auckland Pride Festival ran from February 3 to 28. Photo / File
This year's Auckland Pride Festival ran from February 3 to 28. Photo / File
Thousands of people were expected to flock to Auckland's waterfront for one of the largest celebrations for the country's Chinese communities - instead the city will remain in alert level 3.
The seven-day lockdown comes with social gathering restrictions that mean large gatherings are now longer possible - essentially shutting down many big events that were due to kick off this week including Round the Bays, the remainder of Auckland's Pride Festival, the Auckland Arts Festival, possibly the start of the 36th America's Cup and the start of Crowded House's nationwide tour.
The rest of the country moves to level 2 - which also comes with some restrictions that will affect sporting matches like the cricket, where crowds will either be limited, or unable to attend.
Here's what you need to know about what's happening with some of the big sporting events, festivals and concerts planned for this week.
• The band was expected to perform at Hamilton's Claudelands Arena on Thursday, March 4, and two concerts at Napier's Church Road Winery from Saturday, March 6-7.
• The band was expected to embark on a worldwide tour this year but that was cancelled due to the pandemic.
SOL3 MIO:
• Sol3 Mio shows in New Plymouth, Whanganui, Wellington, Palmerston North and Hamilton will be postponed until a later date.
• The operatic trio were expected to play in New Plymouth on Wednesday and finish their week in Hamilton on Sunday.
SOL3 MIO SHOWS POSTPONED
With the recent change in COVID-19 Alert Levels in New Zealand, the upcoming SOL3 MIO shows in...
• Auckland Pride has postponed the remainder of this year's festival with a few events, including the rainbow night markets and China Pride festival, being rescheduled to a later date.
Following the Government’s announcement that Auckland will return to Alert Level Three, Auckland Pride is postponing the remainder of the Festival.
• Sunday morning's Ports of Auckland Round the Bays is not going ahead. It is unclear at this stage if it will take place at a later date.
Sunday's Round the Bays will no longer go ahead. Photo / NZ Herald
AMERICA'S CUP:
• The 36th America's Cup match was due to start in Auckland on Saturday, March 6 and run until March 15. Organisers say they are reviewing the situation and will be working with the authorities and relevant agencies over the next few days to work through the implications.
America's Cup unlikely to go ahead but organisers say no decision has been made yet. Photo / Michael Craig
AUCKLAND ARTS FESTIVAL:
• Seventy events were due to start on Thursday, March 4, and run across 18 days. While there has not yet been any official announcement, events on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are unlikely to go ahead due to restrictions on how many people can gather at events.
• AAF policy stipulates that people will be entitled to refunds if events are cancelled because of Covid.
