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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Coronavirus: Bay of Plenty events cancelled, postponed - what you need to know

Kiri Gillespie
By Kiri Gillespie
Assistant News Director and Multimedia Journalist·Bay of Plenty Times·
16 Mar, 2020 05:56 PM3 mins to read

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Coronavirus: Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled - Ardern
Coronavirus: Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled - Ardern
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      Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled to help stop the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
      NOW PLAYING • Coronavirus: Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled - Ardern
      Coronavirus: Gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled - Ardern

      The Bay's major events calendar for the coming months has been nearly cleared after a wave of coronavirus-related cancellations and postponements.

      Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled to prevent the virus spreading.

      READ MORE:
      • Coronavirus: NZ facing worst-case economic scenario, says Grant Robertson
      • Coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern defends Govt testing regime as WHO calls for 'test, test, test'
      • Coronavirus: Are these the last people in the world to be told about the pandemic?
      • Aussie traveller's priceless response to coronavirus crisis

      Soon after the Tauranga Jazz Festival confirming it was no longer going ahead as planned at Easter.

      Festival manager Mandy Ryan told the Bay of Plenty Times the cancellation had not been an easy decision to make.

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      "We spent a lot of time during the year organising the event. It's very disappointing for all of us - for the musicians coming to play, for the festival team, and for the audience."

      National Jazz Festival general manager Mandy Ryan, pictured at one of the festival's events in 2018. Photo / File
      National Jazz Festival general manager Mandy Ryan, pictured at one of the festival's events in 2018. Photo / File

      "You do feel like you're letting down a lot of people ... our community misses out on the opportunity to get together and have the wonderful Easter music experience," Ryan said.

      "We all miss out."

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      Ryan said she had been buoyed by support already shown from the community who were "incredibly understanding that Covid-19 is a threat to us".

      Organisers were considering potential alternative dates for the 43rd National Youth Jazz Competition, which had been expected to be held on April 8 and 9 and involve 27 schools.

      COVID-19 UPDATE
      22 Jan Click on a bar to show the map for that day 74,855,994 confirmed cases globally30,918,684 active cases42,277,369 recovered1,659,941 deathsHover over a circleto see more detail
      74,855,994
      cases
      42,277,369
      recovered
      1,659,941
      deaths

      Flatten the curve

      Move the slider left to see what happens when the number of people infected by each infected person is reduced.

      Each infected person infects

      ← fewer people
      more people →
      Medical system capacityUnmitigated scenarioNumber of casesTime

      How can you flatten the curve?

      • Stay at home if you are unwell
      • Avoid large crowds
      • Wash your hands regularly
      • Avoid touching your face
      • Reduce physical contact
      Last updated: Fri 18th December at 12:17 am
      Go here to see all our Covid-19 data

      Meanwhile, the 21st Tauranga Multicultural Festival that was taking place on March 22 has been postponed.

      Multicultural Tauranga president Ann Kerewaro said it was disappointing, as last year's festival was put off after the Whakaari/White Island tragedy and the year before it rained.

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      "We hope it will be some time later in the year but we don't know what's going to happen with the virus so we don't have a date yet."

      Dipti Bhikha from the Soornoopor Bollywood dance group at a previous Multicultural Festival. Photo / File
      Dipti Bhikha from the Soornoopor Bollywood dance group at a previous Multicultural Festival. Photo / File

      The Bay of Plenty Speedway Championships expected to be held on March 21 at Baypark Stadium is off. Plans for future speedway events will be updated closer to those dates.

      The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has called off its Happy Harbour Fun Day on March 21.

      The news follows the postponement of Coromandel's Repco Beach Hop from next weekend to November.

      The annual celebration of classic cars and rock and roll music in Whangamatā usually attracts more than 100,000 people. In a statement, organiser Noddy Watts said they had decided to push it back to November after discussions with health officials.

      Beach Hop partygoers will have to wait before they can party at this year's event. Photo / File
      Beach Hop partygoers will have to wait before they can party at this year's event. Photo / File

      He has warned the future of the event may be in jeopardy due to the financial hit of the postponement.

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      Thousands usually flock to Tauranga for the annual Jazz Festival, which has now been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Photo / File
      Thousands usually flock to Tauranga for the annual Jazz Festival, which has now been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Photo / File

      In Rotorua, the Harcourts Dancing for Hospice and Xterra Rotorua Festival have been cancelled, and the Rotorua Night Market, Sunday Farmers' Market suspended.

      Whakatāne's Oxfam Trailwalker this weekend and the Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe event at Easter are also off along with Taupō's Iron Māori this weekend.

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