Covid-19 pushes the stop, pause buttons on events

A host of planned events around Tairawhiti have been canned, postponed or stripped down, after the Government announced new guidelines around mass gatherings in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden last night said mass gatherings of 500 or more cannot go ahead.

That prompted a flurry of event cancellations.

But Menopause The Musical, scheduled for Thursday at the War Memorial Theatre will go ahead. Organisers said on Facebook they would keep audience numbers to less than 500 to get around the mass gathering rule.

Events cancelled include The Ruatoria Fly-in on March 21 and the Gisborne City Centre Vibrancy's Chomp, Stop, Street Food Festival on April 12.

Operatunity's Glenn Miller concert, scheduled for tomorrow, is another casualty.

Gisborne's second annual Beer Festival at the Royal (formerly the Jolly Stockman) has been postponed for seven months, with organisers setting aside an alternative date of November 28.

Tickets already bought will be valid for November 28 and will be kept online and safe.

“We're also happy to issue refunds to all tickets purchased to the festival,” said event spokesman Ricky Boyd.

Mr Boyd stressed there would also be future events, in addition to the Beer Festival's new date.

Smaller events like today's annual St Patrick's Day bash at the Rivers Restaurant and Bar will still go ahead.

“We don't think the Government is saying that we should be cancelling things like that, so we have decided to carry on,” Rivers co-owner Melissa Murphy said.

About 200 people were expected to be coming and going at various times through the day ahead of a live band at 8pm, making the event smaller than those categorised by the government as large events.

“I would say it is going to be a quieter one. I think we are quite safe to carry on at the moment.”