Local sport dodges vaccine mandates

Vaccine mandates will not apply to community sport but gatherings and events, where vaccine passes are not checked, will face significant challenges and restrictions.

In welcome news to Aucklanders and regions with low rates of vaccination, community sport will go ahead in locations zoned red under the new traffic light system of restrictions.

Sport New Zealand released its first instalment of its Covid-19 Protection Framework (CPF), yesterday evening, for when New Zealand moves into the traffic light system on December 3.

Most community sports will fall under gatherings in the Sport NZ CPF but events will face much tighter restrictions. Sport NZ will release more detailed sector guidance next week which will include more clarification on the difference between gatherings and events.

Some sports will take the framework out of participants’ hands by enforcing mandatory checking of vaccine passes.

Where vaccine passes are not checked, gatherings such as community cricket, softball or tennis, will be limited to 25 people. All capacity limits exclude workers.

If vaccine passes are enforced, the limit for a gathering jumps up to a maximum of 100 people, so long as there is enough space to have a onemetre gap between people. Spectators will also need to show evidence of a vaccine pass.

There are no requirements for physical distancing during competition, meaning contact sports can take place and mask use is not required during the activity.

Multiple gatherings can be held at one venue but must be kept separate. Indoor gatherings must be separated by walls and cannot share direct airflow.

Spectators can have a separate gathering at outdoor gatherings, so long as they stay two metres away from the players and other gatherings, however, physically distancing is not required within the spectator gathering. As with the government’s regulations for red and orange zoned areas, masks will need to be worn in public places by spectators and when not participating in sporting activity.

Children under the age of 12 are to be treated as if they have a vaccine pass but are included in limits.