Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Covid 19 coronavirus: Sport Whanganui preparing for full lockdown return, among other scenarios

By Logan Tutty
Multimedia journalist·Whanganui Chronicle·
13 Aug, 2020 03:20 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Danny Jonas says they are holding tight until Friday's announcement before they make any future decisions on sport. Photo / Bevan Conley

Danny Jonas says they are holding tight until Friday's announcement before they make any future decisions on sport. Photo / Bevan Conley

So far no Whanganui winter sport fixtures have been postponed for this weekend, but Sport Whanganui says clubs should be prepared for the possibility of their seasons being cut short.

Sport Whanganui CEO Danny Jonas was discouraged when he heard the announcement the country was re-entering alert level 2, and Auckland level 3, but said there had been some indicators over the past week that this could be possible.

"Shock's not the right word, but I guess disappointment," he said.

"That being said, we have been told enough times this could happen."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Jonas said the organisation wasn't getting ahead of itself but was preparing for a worst-case scenario.

They would be looking to systems put in place earlier in the year and use the knowledge gained from operating in the previous lockdown.

"We were definitely prepared [for a level change], simply from the learnings of the first phase."

Many junior sport teams have postponed training over the past two days with Central Football announcing all junior football this weekend has been cancelled.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Sport Whanganui are holding tight on making any decisions until Friday when a decision is set to be made by the Government about what alert level the country will be in from Saturday.

Wanganui Rugby has said if the country is at alert level 1 or 2 on Saturday, all club rugby games will proceed.

Under level 2, there is the potential for no spectators, because of gathering restrictions and the difficulties around managing them.

A final decision about spectators will be made by 12pm on Friday. Under level 3, no games will go ahead.

Discover more

Financial assistance available for sport and recreation organisations

11 Aug 05:00 PM

Whanganui moves to alert level 2

11 Aug 08:12 PM

Whanganui's Seth Reardon in the frame for Dirt Guide Cross Country Series

12 Aug 05:00 PM

Cole sets pace early in new Greyhound season

13 Aug 04:00 AM

Although a move up alert levels was not wanted by anyone, Jonas said they had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

"We don't want to make any assumptions or do any speculating, but we are certainly confident we can roll out again. Not by choice, but we are ready to go."

He said he felt for sport and recreation clubs after what had been a very challenging year.

"All that stuff that has been rolled back in a reasonably swift manner and here we are potentially, potentially, facing it again. We are always optimistic but we're also realistic.

"You begin to feel for those clubs and codes who have just started getting their head above water again."

With social distancing and 100-person limit at venues under level 2, clubs and venues will have a difficult time containing numbers, so spectators being able to attend seems unlikely.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We are ready and we are prepared. We will be here as were before for the sports clubs and codes."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Opinion

Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

11 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

RSA 'alive and well' despite premises closure

11 Jul 06:00 PM

Former members are 'more than welcome' to return, RSA Welfare Trust president says.

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

‘Everyone went silent’: Whanganui Youth MP speaks in Parliament

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

Shelley Loader: How we can all get a share of the apples

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Major Joanna Margaret Paul exhibition opens

Major Joanna Margaret Paul exhibition opens

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP