Covid 19 Delta outbreak: How Whanganui region events are facing challenge

A Fest of Cultural Unity, with food and entertainment, is one of the casualties of the current alert level. Photo / File

Amid an avalanche of cancellations the Whanganui River Markets stand out as a weekly social event that continues under Covid-19 alert level 2.

Waverley's 100th A&P Show, Whanganui's Fest of Cultural Unity and Rangitīkei's Hunterville Huntaway Festival have all been cancelled or postponed.

Even the Mainstreet Christmas Parade in Whanganui could be at risk, although the organisation's Mainstreet's Geoff Follett is still getting entries.

The Whanganui River Markets couldn't happen during alert level 3, manager Annette Main said.

In level 2 the farmers market part of it could and did resume, after the Government decided its role in local food distribution put it on a par with supermarkets.

Main was especially relieved about that for new business Earthlight Farm, which was due to launch products on the first Saturday of the August lockdown and then had to wait six weeks.

On October 5 the Government removed any limit on numbers of people at outdoor events. On October 9 the markets could then add their River Traders side, to see how that would go.

It made for about 70 per cent of a full market experience, Main said, and it went well.

"Practically all the customers were wearing a mask, though it wasn't mandatory, and we were very very happy with the way people managed the social distancing required."

Today

the market will be back to its usual size, with lots of space for distancing as it spreads out along the riverbank and people take food to the riverside and eat in their bubbles.

There will be lots of opportunities to scan or sign in and sanitise hands, and all stallholders must wear masks.

Main said Whanganui District Health Board chief executive Russell Simpson agreed with her about the market's importance as a social function.

"For many, many people in the community their visit to the market on a Saturday morning is the highlight of their week. And it's not necessarily for shopping - for random conversations and feeling like they're part of the community."

Market staff got lots of thank yous when it resumed.

"It's the one thing that can remain consistent in a life that's completely inconsistent at the moment," Main said.

The market team has been fantastic through this time, she said, adapting, putting in more hours than expected and being kind to everybody.

Also this Saturday, Hellen Puhipuhi and a committee had planned a Fest of Cultural Unity, with food, entertainment, information and fun.

But 7000 people were expected, too many for effective distancing, and it has been postponed until March 5 next year.

"We would rather everyone keeps safe and gets their vaccines in on Super Saturday," Puhipuhi said.

The Mudder event at Andrew and Kylie Stewart's farm was also to have been on October 16, and is postponed until 2022.

October 23 was to have been the day for event organiser Gioia Damosso's On the Rocks festival of boutique distilleries. It's postponed to November 20.

On October 30 Rangitīkei organisers had planned to hold the annual Hunterville Huntaway Festival and Shepherds Shemozzle race. It needs level 1, and has been cancelled.

Also that day, Geeta Singh's Lotus women's group had planned a Diwali Festival - cancelled.

Waverley A&P Association president Leeanne Morrison had big plans for the 100th Waverley A&P Show on November 16. But she was expecting a lot of people, and she said she was unsure about social distancing.

She's hoping the 100th show can happen this time next year, and she can still use the book and video interviews she had prepared. The show's horse events are also cancelled, but the association is hoping to run a low-key ribbon day at Labour Weekend and some showing classes on November 20.

Postponement of the 100th show will pose questions for some on the committee, Morrison said, because they were intending to retire after the 100th this year.

The Marton Market Day on November 27, usually jam-packed, is also cancelled.

One event that's still on is the Rotary Club of Whanganui North's food drive on October 28, to collect non-perishable food, toilet and laundry items for the City Mission's Food Bank.

Social distancing there will be easy, with workers wearing masks and food left at the kerb for them to collect after 6pm.