AusLeisure

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).

Related Articles

22nd March 2020 - Coronavirus Update: Crown Casino, Fitness Australia, LIWA Aquatics and gyms and theatres closed in the UK - 22nd March

22nd March 2020 - Recreation Aotearoa highlight support offered by outdoor providers during COVID-19 crisis

21st March 2020 - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern introduces alert system to halt spread of Coronavirus

21st March 2020 - Creative New Zealand establishes multi-million dollar Coronavirus response

21st March 2020 - Coronavirus Update: Bondi Beach, Christchurch, Mass Gatherings, Social Distancing in Gyms and Jobs - 21st March

20th March 2020 - Risk management leader sees the Coronavirus crisis as a unique test of resilience

20th March 2020 - ANZ Premiership shutdown marks end of all top-level sport in New Zealand

18th March 2020 - New Zealanders should keep up physical activity during the Coronavirus pandemic

15th March 2020 - Coronavirus travel restrictions to impact New Zealand tourism and sport

14th February 2020 - Alpine Aqualand to reopen earlier than forecast

25th May 2019 - Risks of local government investment in major venues highlighted in Forsyth Barr stadium study

11th February 2019 - Initial design concepts proposed for Rotorua Aquatic Centre upgrades

1st June 2016 - Sport Hawke’s Bay encourages more sport and active recreation volunteers

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.