The 90% Project is an NZ Herald initiative that aims to reach all New Zealanders to get the word out about vaccination so we can save lives and restore freedoms. Video / NZ Herald
My Vaccine Pass will be soon required at most Rotorua and Taupō venues and facilities for people aged 12 and over.
The councils will enter the new Covid-19 protection framework at the red traffic light setting at 11.59pm tomorrow .
Rotorua's vaccine pass requirement will kick in straight away, while Taupō will give people until December 15 - when the Auckland border will open - to get ready and vaccinated.
Rotorua's civic centre, Ta Aka Mauri - library, aquatic centre, Long Mile i-SITE, crematorium, and wastewater treatment plant will be off-limits to unvaccinated people while Rotorua is in red.
A vaccine pass will be required for council events at Energy Events Centre and Rotorua International Stadium, while the organisers of private events will have to provide a Covid management plan for council approval.
The pound will have contactless collection of animals and, after a decision by Rotorua Economic Development, the Fenton Street i- SITE will be open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors. A decision was yet to be made about the InfraCore Nursery.
The council said in a statement this was seen as the "best way to ensure the safety of our community and minimise the spread of Covid-19".
Swimming pools, libraries and the Superloo are among the Taupō public facilities unvaccinated people will not be able to use from December 15.
Taupō District Council chief executive Gareth Green said a Vaccine Pass would be required to enter all council facilities and venues except customer service centres, council chambers, landfill and transfer stations.
Passes will be required at swimming pools, libraries, museums, Great Lake Centre, Taupō Events Centre, Owen Delany Park Stadium and the number one pitch, Superloo and council offices with public access.
The council was allowing a "slightly longer transition period for people to get vaccinated". The date would also coincide with Auckland's border reopening on December 15.
"Putting this requirement in place not only ensures the safety of our staff, our customers and the wider community but it also means we can maintain our levels of service to the best of our ability, at any traffic light level," Green said.
Taupō District Council chief executive Gareth Green. Photo / Supplied
"We understand that this may impact on some members of our community, but as a local government organisation I believe we need to lead the way and encourage as many of our community to get vaccinated as we move from the elimination strategy to the protection framework," he said.
He said after consultation with staff, the council would require all workers at its facilities to have had their first vaccination by December 15.
"We will work closely with affected staff to support them through these changes. I am absolutely committed to keeping everyone safe at their place of work."
The council also confirmed its New Year's Eve event and fireworks display will not go ahead because of the red setting and in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
A My Vaccine Pass will be required to enter many public facilities in Taupō from December 15. Photo / Bevan Conley
According to the Government Covid-19 website, at red and orange, public facilities such as libraries, public galleries, museums, zoos, swimming pools and recreation centres can open.
The capacity limit is based on how many people - not including workers - can occupy the space if each person was one metre apart. People must scan in and wear face coverings but do not have to stay 1m apart.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council, which will move to orange from Friday, has elected not to require vaccine passes for access to its public facilities.
