This afternoon the Government announced its decision to move away from the Covid-19 protection framework (traffic light system).
This means from midnight tonight, face masks will no longer be required in our Council facilities (though anyone who wishes to wear a mask, may choose to do so).
Thank you all for your efforts in keeping our city safe during the pandemic.
On 1 June 2022, following the latest consultation with staff, the Council's Covid-19 vaccination requirements changed. The decision document can be found here: Covid Decision Document 1 June 2022.pdf
Below are links to the risk assessment and other vaccination data that informed the decision document:
Vaccine passes are no longer required from next week at Porirua City Council facilities
From next Tuesday, 5 April, vaccine passes will no longer be required for those visiting Porirua City Council premises, in line with the changes signalled by the Government this week. These include Te Rauparaha Arena, the Council's front counter on Hagley St, and the city's libraries.
We ask the public to please keep wearing masks, stay home if you’re unwell and maintain 1m distancing wherever possible.
The Council would like to thank everyone for their co-operation and patience as we’ve navigated these challenging times. We wish everyone impacted by Covid a speedy recovery and look forward to life returning closer to normal.
We have faced extraordinary circumstances over the past two years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Throughout this time Porirua City Council has followed Government advice based on the best available scientific and medical evidence.
The health and safety of our staff, customers and the wider Porirua community is paramount. We have high Māori and Pacific populations in our city and both have been identified as vulnerable populations by the Ministry of Health.
As the Covid-19 virus evolved, particularly during the Delta phase, the Council continued to review expert advice and based on that, we put in place measures to help keep our people and community safe.
Since 3 December 2021, vaccine passes became mandatory at all indoor Council facilities to minimise the spread of Covid-19. We will continue to review our stance as the virus and Government advice changes.
We recognise that some people are nervous about having the vaccine, and that others are nervous about being exposed to unvaccinated people.
We hope to return to “normal” as soon as possible but for now, we believe our stance balances the health and safety needs of the majority.
The Council is obligated under the Health and Safety Work Act to provide a safe working environment for our staff. A consultation process and a survey of staff revealed that there was strong support for a mandated vaccine and since 17 January 2022 all Council staff are now vaccinated.
The decisions above were taken after reviewing our community circumstances, Government advice, the Bill of Rights Act, Council plans and policies, risk assessments and the vaccination rates of our community. In relation to the requirement for staff to be vaccinated we also consulted about 400 staff members. You can read all our information below:
Rates
Rates are a tax based on your property value not on the number of services you use. Council services are funded by general rates on a ‘common good’ basis because they provide a benefit to the whole community whether you use them or not. In keeping with this, Council does not offer rates remissions to people who choose not to get vaccinated.
At the orange setting, public facilities are open but with some restrictions. Visitors must wear masks (other than when swimming/exercising or eating/drinking) and stay one metre from others. In some cases, numbers in a venue will be limited to meet the one metre spacing requirement.
There is more specific info below on our various services and facilities.
Usual animal control services will resume. Contact tracing and masks will be mandatory for people collecting animals from the pound.
You must wear a face mask in many indoor locations. You do not need to wear a face mask outdoors.
At the Arena entrance your pass will be sited by one of our staff and then scanned at reception/ gym reception for verification. We hope this will help reduce and delays this presentation of passes may cause.
Open at red setting, with numbers restricted. One metre distancing for all staff and customers.
Session times will run on weekends and school holidays. Closed 10.30am - 11am, 1.30pm - 2pm and 4.30pm - 5pm for cleaning.
To all our business whanau in Porirua , we know you are going through uncertain and tough times during the pandemic. Please see our business hub. We know this is a difficult time. Please look after yourselves and each other
The Council has moved to internet banking for all payments. Please see our pay online webpage for online payment details. www.poriruacity.govt.nz/contact/pay-online/
Main library – show your vaccine pass on entry,
Branch libraries – show your vaccine pass to the librarian.
Our libraries have eBooks, Streaming Video & eMagazines available for those who don’t have passes or prefer to access services externally.
Mountain bike tracks are open.
This will operate as usual, with officers maintaining physical distancing and wearing masks where required
Playgrounds, skate parks, courts, turf, sportsgrounds and mountain bike tracks are open.
At the Arena entrance your pass will be sited by one of our staff and then scanned at reception/ gym reception for verification. We hope this will help reduce and delays this presentation of passes may cause.
Open at orange setting, with numbers restricted. One metre distancing for all staff and customers.
Session times will run on weekends and school holidays. Closed 10.30am - 11am, 1.30pm - 2pm and 4.30pm - 5pm for cleaning.
Our public toilets remain open and will be regularly cleaned.
There is no change to our regular rubbish collection schedule. Please continue to use Council rubbish bags, which you can still purchase at supermarkets and dairies. Your rubbish will only be collected if it is in an official Council bag.
For more information check gw.govt.nz/parks
Courts, turf and sportsgrounds are open and bookings can be made - no restrictions for events.
Changing rooms at our sportsgrounds will only be open.
Open. Remember the golden rule of keeping a distance of one metre. If that’s not physically possible, then please do not use that space such as narrow walkways or tracks.
Lastly, remember the golden rules to keep safe: