City council will also be keeping its interim customer position
The use of vaccine passes in select staffed facilities and council-run community events in Auckland are extended until the end of June 2022, according to the Auckland Council.
In a statement, council said the following facilities will continue requiring the use of vaccine passes:
- Gyms/Fitness Functions
- Learn to swim programmes (for customers older than 12 years)
- Recreation/Leisure Centres
- Pools and aquatic centres
- Holiday parks
- Libraries
- Arts facilities
- Council-run events
- Community centres
- Animal shelters
- Service Centres (integrated and standalone)
- Cemetery offices (alternative arrangements can be made)
- Visitor Centres – Arataki, Botanic Gardens
- Tipping Point (Waitākere) recycling centre
The following facilities, on the other hand, will not require them:
- Baches, camping sites and lodges (Regional Parks)
- Community venues for hire through booking
- Cemeteries (excluding offices)
- Waste transfer stations
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff explained in a statement that the extension will help keep the council's staff, customers, and community safe, especially as the summer arrives, where more events are held.
"The move to Orange in the COVID-19 Protection Framework does not change the requirement for vaccine passes at staffed facilities," he said. "This is because the council’s top priority remains the safety of people on its premises, and to reduce the chances of the spread of COVID-19 within them."
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According to Goff, requiring the jabs will reduce the chances of transmission in gatherings where social distancing may not be observed.
Councillor Alf Filipaina, chair of the council's Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee, clarified however that the unvaccinated will still be able to access the services of some establishments.
"Some services may be delivered to unvaccinated customers in a different way than before, but we will ensure these are still accessible to everyone, such as our libraries' highly popular Wi-Fi, digital and 'Click-and-Collect' services," Filipaina said.
Meanwhile, the council's interim customer position will also be extended until the end of June 2022.
Jim Stabback, Auckland Council chief executive, explained that this would help them come up with "unified long-term approach" in their organisation.
"Continuing our interim customer position will also enable alignment of several other key council policies, including the staff vaccination policy and the contractor vaccination policy that are currently in development," Stabback said.
