From empty and silent to 1600 nightclubbers

It won’t just be proof of legal age nightclub staff will be checking on their patrons, but also the new covid vaccination certificates.

And one of Hamilton’s biggest hospitality operators isn’t expecting any trouble around passes when he reopens his doors on Friday.

Lawrenson Group chief executive John Lawrenson will get to open the doors of his nightclubs The Outback Inn and Coyotes after being closed for over 100 days.

But under the oranga traffic light system, proof of vaccination in public settings is required for entry to these and other hospitality venues and events, along with close contact businesses like hairdressers and beauty salons and gyms.

‘‘It’s pretty simple, people just have to show the vaccine passport. I think there is some confusion that people think if they’ve had one vaccine that they can still come, but the rule is pretty clear – if we don’t see a vaccine passport we don’t have any choice around your (non) entry.’’

He doesn’t believe there will be trouble by those who don’t have a certificate.

‘‘I think there is obviously dissatisfaction in some corners around the mandate, but I would be very, very surprised if there were any issues at our doors arising from it.’’

Lawrenson said if he didn’t meet rules around vaccine passport then the jobs of 200 people would be threatened.

He’s so confident that people will enjoy the doors to nightclubs being open again, that he’s fully opening up the Outback, which can cater for up to 1600 people.

‘‘Our experience after the long lockdowns in 2020 was that people were so happy to be out again that the atmosphere was pretty jovial, and we didn’t have a lot of problems.’’

Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams said it’s great to have restrictions on venue numbers ease under the new system and have businesses reopen.

‘‘There will be some teething processes to work through.

‘‘There has been a bit of concern around if businesses will require a staff member to be on the door like a bouncer or doorman, but they can check the passes at the table or register. It could take a little bit of time to see how it works.’’

For that reason Williams is urging customers to be patient as everyone gets used to the process.