Vaccine certificates mandated at Ngai Tahu Tourism attractions

Ngāi Tahu Tourism has announced all visitors to its attractions across New Zealand will be required to show proof of vaccination from Friday 3rd December.

As part of the wider Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Group, Ngāi Tahu Tourism advises that it “takes its health and safety obligations to all kaimahi, manuhiri, whānau and communities very seriously”.

With the new infectious COVID-19 variants entering communities, there is a focus on vaccinations as the strongest and most effective tool to minimise the spread of infection.

Advising that it is both a social and corporate responsibility to support vaccinations in the interest of the public good, Ngāi Tahu Tourism General Manager of Corporate Services, Jo Allison stated “we know vaccination is the most effective way of minimising spread of the virus and keeping people well.

“At Ngāi Tahu Tourism, we need those who visit our attractions to have that peace of mind that the person they are sitting next to on the Shotover Jet, or the person they are hiking the ice with at Franz Josef Glacier Guides has the best protection available against COVID-19.”

All open Ngāi Tahu Tourism attractions - including Shotover Jet, Dart River Adventures, Franz Josef Glacier Guides, Agrodome, National Kiwi Hatchery, Hukafalls Jet, the All Blacks Experience, Dark Sky Project and the Hollyford Wilderness Experience -  will be covered by the new policy.

The attractions will also continue to follow New Zealand Government guidelines around localised outbreaks and implement secondary measures where needed, such as strict hygiene measures, social distancing, mask wearing and scanning in.

Visitors from Friday will need to provide proof of vaccination which can come in the form of a digital or hardcopy of the relevant record from My Covid Record provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Ngāi Tahu Tourism also strongly encourages a 100% vaccination rate for its own staff and has enabled time off work for staff to get the vaccination.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Group has completed risk assessments across the business to ensure our people and interests are protected from the transmission of COVID-19.

Like many employers across the country, the Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is working through a consultation process with all staff about a vaccination policy.

All Blacks Experience’s first anniversary
Tomorrow (2nd December) will also mark the first birthday of Auckland’s All Blacks Experience.

Launched last year after almost a decade of planning and construction, the fully guided, state-of-the-art, interactive tour in the heart of SkyCity in Auckland showcases the successes, history and culture of the All Blacks, Black Ferns, Māori All Blacks, All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens teams.

Over the past year, the All Blacks Experience has hosted more than 1500 tours, personalised more than 700 rugby jerseys, and hosted more than 50 high profile events.

Images: Ngāi Tahu Tourism's Shotover Jet (top) and All Blacks Experience (below).