Waipā public facilities still require vaccine pass

Vaccine passes are still required at most of Waipā District Council’s owned or managed public facilities and buildings but residents can be assured this policy is being reviewed regularly, says Council Chief Executive Garry Dyet.

Dyet said that while the decision to implement the policy hadn’t been an easy one to make, it was based on the health and safety of Council’s frontline staff, to protect those vulnerable in the community, and to ensure the ability for Council to continue to deliver services to the community.

“A major consideration in putting the policy in place was to ensure we could continue to have enough staff to run services. Currently, we are close to having to reduce services in some areas due to the availability of staff who are isolating at home, so now is not the time to lower our guard.

“I think everyone agrees that the last two years of this pandemic have been hard for everyone. We all want to get to the point where we can welcome everyone back into our facilities, however, the time is not right yet as we are in the midst of the Omicron wave. We are reviewing the status of the policy every two weeks,” Dyet says.

The policy, put in place from December 13, means anyone aged over 12 years and three months needs to have their vaccine pass sighted for entry to Te Awamutu Library, Cambridge Library, Te Awamutu Museum, Council buildings including front counters and meeting spaces, Council-managed community halls, and Council dog control facilities.

The Perry Aquatic Centre and Te Awamutu Events Centre are both managed by GoWaipa who have their own vaccine pass policy in place.

Dyet acknowledges the work that has been put in by Council staff to set up alternative services for those without a vaccine pass, including click and collect services and online services.

For more information on the Waipā District Council vaccine pass policy for its public facilities and buildings, check out Life at Red.