Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Upper Hutt emergency meeting over vaccination pass requirement at facilities

2 Dec, 2021 10:35 PM5 minutes to read
December 3 2021 There are 92 new Covid community cases on day one of the nation's move to the new traffic light system. The last day New Zealand recorded under 100 community cases was October 28, with 89 cases.

December 3 2021 There are 92 new Covid community cases on day one of the nation's move to the new traffic light system. The last day New Zealand recorded under 100 community cases was October 28, with 89 cases.

By
Vita Molyneux

Wellington Digital Producer

VIEW PROFILE

An emergency meeting has been called by Upper Hutt City councillors after it was decided vaccine passes will not be required at council facilities such as swimming pools and libraries.

The decision made by Upper Hutt on Thursday is at the heart of the Remutaka electorate held by Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.

Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said the decision was about "organising life again".

"The region has very high vaccination rates – about 98 per cent first dose and 92 per cent double - so this is about getting people back, we're trying not to stay in that siege mentality and get back to normal as soon as possible."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The decision is an outlier for the Wellington region with all other councils – Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt and the Kāpiti Coast – all requiring vaccine passes for people to use the facilities.

Read More

  • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Auckland pubs open doors as ...
  • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: How Auckland avoided the hundreds ...
  • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: 172 cases as country moves ...
  • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Lone Star New Lynn ignores ...
  • Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Restaurants welcome dine-in ...

Upper Hutt councillor Dylan Bentley said the decision was an outlier even within the council. He strongly disagrees with the decision and wants council facilities to be for vaccinated people only.

"The vaccine passes are all about protecting the vulnerable in our communities – children who can't get vaccinated, the immunocompromised and the elderly.

"Our facilities are actually patronised mostly by those groups and by not having vax passes we're basically saying fair game anyone can go there doesn't matter if you're unvaccinated, which in my opinion is not sending the right signal to those who seriously can't get vaccinated for medical reasons and it's not protecting them."

Bentley said the decision was not made by councillors but by council staff - and when they were informed late on Wednesday night a number of councillors were "flabbergasted".

"We're actually having an emergency meeting today and I'm sure a lot of councillors will voice their concerns."

Related articles

New Zealand

Live: Day one in traffic light system 'a step into the unknown'

02 Dec 08:58 PM
New Zealand

Freedom Day! 'Life is going to start to feel a lot more normal' - Hipkins

02 Dec 08:43 PM
Lifestyle

'Dream come true': Restaurants welcome dine-in customers as Auckland turns 'red'

02 Dec 04:00 PM
Travel

DoC mandates vaccines in huts and campsites

02 Dec 02:03 AM

While he doesn't believe the decision can be put to a vote, he says the council can "strongly recommend" it's reconsidered.

"That's what I'll be doing and I hope I'm in the majority here because I believe it's the right thing to do."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

A spokesperson for the Upper Hutt City Council told the Herald the meeting is not a formal one, but an opportunity for councillors to talk to Mayor Guppy about any concerns they have - as well as addressing matters for the week ahead.

Hipkins told the Herald the decision was one for the Upper Hutt council to make - however, he would like to see it doing more to encourage vaccination.

"The framework is in place to keep people protected from Covid-19 and I would encourage businesses and organisations across the board to encourage vaccination and the use of My Vaccine Pass."

Lower Hutt mayor 'really disappointed'

Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry told the Herald he was "really disappointed" at the lack of cohesion among the councils.

A spokesperson for Upper Hutt City Council says the meeting is not a formal one, and rather an opportunity for councillors to meet with Mayor Guppy and talk through any concerns they may have - as well as any matters for the week ahead.

"It makes no sense to have inconsistency across those areas. I'd like to see consistency because as we know, our communities move across areas."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Barry said having one council which did not require passes would attract a large number of unvaccinated people - who would then head home to their respective regions, creating a high-risk situation.

"We need to remind ourselves that what works currently is very different to how it is now – living with Covid requires different rules."

Day 1 for traffic light system

Meanwhile, day one of the new traffic light system has finally arrived and for Aucklanders, the chance to head to the gym or out for a meal with friends - albeit with that now all-important vaccine pass.

It was a particularly great start to the weekend for hospitality business owners in the city, who dusted off tables and opened their doors to customers again after more than 100 days in a strict Covid-19 lockdown.

Britomart bistro Ortolana duty manager Ella Xue said she was ecstatic to be back in business this morning.

"I'm actually very excited. Last night I was hoping today was going to be a smash day."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

About 30 people had been through by 8am, all with their vaccine passes.

All customers' passes were scanned upon entry and no one had expressed any frustration with the process so far, she said.

Regular customers Isabelle, Alan and Steve said it was fantastic to be back to their usual spot.

"We'll definitely come here and help the business. We feel for the cafe," Alan said.

All said the vaccine pass process was smooth. Both Isabelle and Steve had cited issues with getting their vaccine pass from the ministry, which had been struggling to service the huge demand for vaccine passes in recent days.

Some people hit the town at the stroke of midnight, when some Auckland pubs decided to open their doors.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Headquarters bar owner Leo Molloy told Three's AM Show about 50-80 people came into the bar within the first 40 minutes of opening last night.

He said things went smoothly but cited some design flaws with the scanning process, saying it could be very slow at times.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Watch: Car thief in pink undies caught in the act after online ownership scam

20 Aug 12:00 AM
New ZealandUpdated

Road closed as seven fire trucks respond to Auckland building fire

19 Aug 11:45 PM
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Rogue Labour MP reveals complaint sent to PM's chief of staff last year

19 Aug 10:51 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Law and order policies 'no magic bullet' on crime and gangs

19 Aug 10:28 PM
Video

Flooding run off pollutes Nelson Haven

Most Popular

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent
New Zealand

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent

19 Aug 09:35 PM
Live: 'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight
New Zealand

Live: 'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight

19 Aug 07:25 PM
Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter
Entertainment

Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter

19 Aug 06:03 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP