Major players in events and hospitality say a shift to the orange traffic light setting would give them back a sense of control over their businesses at a time when they desperately need certainty.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will announce the latest review of Covid-19 settings on Monday, which could see the country, or certain regions, move from “red” to “orange” – and the end of 200-person limits on indoor gatherings.
The red setting also mandated seated table service at restaurants and bars and hospitality needed this lifted, according to Jeremy Smith, director of the Trinity Group, which owns Wellington hotels, restaurants and bars such as The Arborist and Lulu’s.
“The late night venues need people to stand and dance to get back to a semblance of normality.”
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Joe Allison/Getty Images
Paris Lokotui, of the Pulse, secures the ball from Ali Wilshier, of the Steel, during the ANZ Premiership match in May, 2021. The teams are set to clash again on April 11.
Trinity Hotel had 15 guests on Sunday night, in a 60-room hotel, he said.
“As long as we remain in red our businesses will be negatively impacted. As business owners we hope the announcement is made on Monday to go to orange and allow us to have control over our businesses without restrictions.”
The World of Wearable Art (WOW), which has faced cancellations of its annual show for two years running, had pencilled in dates for this year for September and October at Wellington’s TSB Arena.
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Jeremy Smith, managing director of the Trinity Group says his Trinity Hotel had 15 guests on Sunday night, in a 60-room hotel.
“We can’t go ahead unless we’re in orange,” chief executive David Tingey said.
“We have fingers, toes and everything crossed, hoping for a change that makes it all possible.
“I’d be kidding if I said I was super confident, but I am confident, and we have a supportive audience and a supportive city “
Organisers had ruled out having any sort of virtual show after consulting with designers, Tingey said.
A move to orange would also see indoor sports stadiums full again, Netball Central and Central Pulse chief executive Fran Scholey said.
BRADEN FASTIER/Stuff
World of Wearable Art chief executive David Tingey says he’s crossing his fingers and toes for a move to orange.
It would mean a full house when the Pulse clash with Southern Steel at TSB Arena on April 11, she said.
“Currently we have 200 people in a 3500-seat stadium,” Scholey said.
Event promoter Phil Sprey, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years, said stability was desperately needed if New Zealand expected artists and major events to return.
“The quicker we get back to some sort of normality and stability when it comes to political decisions the better. With these changes sort of dropping all the time nobody trusts anybody any more … everybody is a little gun shy.”
Sprey, who has brought the likes of Elton John, Kiss, and Bon Jovi to our shores, said he wasn’t promoting any artists at the moment and was considering retirement given the pandemic.
“If you’re not a major international promoter insurance is nigh on impossible to get, because of the various twists of Covid. People like ourselves can’t afford to not have insurance.”
In other announced changes, the vaccine pass system becomes voluntary, vaccine mandates are eased and outdoor gathering limits are eliminated from 11:59pm on Monday.
Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
If we want crowds like this, at the ANZ Premiership netball match between the Pulse and the Tactix at TSB Arena in August 2020, we need orange, industry leaders say.
Wellington City Council is yet to announce it will lift vaccine pass requirements from its public venues, but this was likely to happen on Wednesday, media spokesperson Victoria Barton-Chapple said.
The passes would be lifted at some point, but the process was a legal requirement, she said.
Hutt City, Upper Hutt and Porirua City councils are lifting vaccine pass requirements at all venues from April 5.
