New Zealand Councils close facilities

Following New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement on 21st March of measures to support social distancing measures to minimise the effect of the Coronavirus, OVID-19 pandemic, councils across the country are announcing the closure of their facilities.

With Auckland Council announcing the closure of its facilities on Friday and Christchurch City Council following suit on Saturday, other local authorities have followed with announcements of facility closures over Sunday and today.

With the nation at ‘COVID-19 Alert Level Two’, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) announced yesterday that is has “taken the view to act swiftly around the inevitable closure of public facilities”.

From today, the Wanaka Recreation Centre and the Queenstown Events Centre (including the Alpine Health and Fitness Gym and Frankton Golf Centre), the Arrowtown Pool together with all district libraries close until a further review is undertaken on 6th April 2020.

Additionally, all QLDC halls including the Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, Lake Wanaka Centre, Queenstown Memorial Hall, Luggate Hall and all other smaller facilities will also be closed with all bookings cancelled until further notice.

Dunedin City Council, which closed its public libraries and swimming pools on Saturday, has today announced that Otago Settlers Museum, Lan Yuan - Dunedin Chinese Garden, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and Olveston Historic Home have been closed until further notice, as have DCC-owned sports and recreational facilities, including the Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Edgar Centre and community halls.

Marlborough District Council also has confirmed yesterday that community facilities will be closed to the public from tomorrow Monday 23rd March.

The facilities closing include the Marlborough District Library in Blenheim, Picton Library, Stadium 2000’s public facilities including the swimming pools and gym, the Millennium Art Gallery, Edwin Fox Museum in Picton and the Marlborough Museum in Blenheim.

Sport Hawke’s Bay has also advised of the closure of its Taradale and Central Hawke’s Bay offices, with all staff working from home indefinitely.

Images: Queenstown's Alpine Aqualand, only reopened last week after renovations, is now closed becasue of Coronavirius fears (top) and Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium is also now closed (below).