COVID - 19 UPDATE FROM HARBOUR HOCKEY

Covid – 19 Update: Friday 05 November 2021
Like sports bodies and businesses across NZ, the North Harbour Hockey Association (NHHA) has looked closely at the latest Government-mandated requirements to ensure we do all we can to comply and mitigate risks associated with Covid-19 while continuing to deliver hockey experiences.
The NHC is a multi-purpose venue with world-class hockey turfs and related facilities, bar & café, meeting rooms, and club/corporate/event hire offerings.

As we look to the future to make plans for a proper return to hockey, there are things we know and things we don’t know.

We know that two weeks ago, the NZ Government announced a pathway out of lockdown to give vaccinated New Zealanders more freedom. We are told a new Traffic Light system will be enforced when we reach a milestone of 90% of eligible NZ’ers fully vaccinated. 

We don’t know precisely how the legislation to govern this new system will end up. The big questions of how organisations will check vaccination status and how things like vaccination exemptions will work have yet to be answered. 

And while the NHHA will take guidance from Sport NZ and Hockey NZ as the story unfolds, we know that to open appropriately to offer team competition and/or hospitality to our members, the NHC will need to be a Covid-19 Vaccine Required Site. That means that all members, players, coaches, umpires, and guests eligible to be vaccinated (12+ years of age) will be required to show proof of vaccination to enter the NHC. We don’t know exactly how this will be managed yet, but we look forward to hearing more from the government on how this can work efficiently for all Vaccine Required Sites across the country.

NHHA has a responsibility to ensure we keep you, our staff, and all our whanau as safe as possible. To do this, we are undertaking a risk assessment of our roles and facility to identify and mitigate any risks as thoroughly as possible, with a target date of 01 December to complete this exercise. This will enable us to carry out the planned Return to Hockey program that the NHHA team has worked hard to develop in early December.

This will allow our members time to prepare and train by taking advantage of the programs and activities at the NHC. Check our website for these programs and return to play activities. Aligning with public health advice, we urge you to get vaccinated, and we look forward to welcoming you back to business as usual (or close proximity) as soon as possible! 

If there are any questions or concerns about our Covid-19 response and plans, please feel free to contact me directly. 
 
​Brad Clarke