Today marks the sixth consecutive day of no new confirmed cases of Covid-19, but as the severity grows overseas, numerous large-scale public events hang in the balance. Here’s what we know.
UPDATE, 14/3: The Christchurch Remembrance Service has been cancelled.
UPDATE 15/3: The new self-isolation rules announced yesterday mean that it is likely all events with international participants due to arrive from Monday are likely to be cancelled or postponed.
The Ministry of Health advice is that as long as there remains no community transmission, “large scale public events can proceed”. But: “It’s up to organisers to ensure people can practise good hygiene at the event, and up to everyone who attends to ensure they don’t put others at risk by attending if they are unwell.”
But some cancellations and postponements have been announced nevertheless.
Pasifika
Status: Cancelled
Auckland’s Pasifika Festival has been cancelled, amid fears about the virus being transmitted back to the Pacific Islands. The first case in the Pacific, in Tahiti, was reported on March 12. Still reeling from the measles outbreak, Mayor Phil Goff announced the decision on Friday morning. It was made, he told media, in consultation with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Samoan High Commissioner. This is the second year in a row that Pasifika has been cancelled; last year following the March 15 shootings it was deemed unsafe to go ahead due to a lack of available police.
Pasifika Festival 2020 has been CANCELLED. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff made the announcement this morning. The decision to cancel is due to public concerns over COVID-19 coronavirus risks. pic.twitter.com/uEVfidmmdX
— PCF (@PCF_NZ) March 12, 2020
March 15 memorials
Status: cancelled (UPDATED)
The prime minister has announced that national commemorations for the March 15 shootings will still go ahead, after consulting the Ministry of Health regarding best practice and pending any advice to the contrary from police over the weekend.
Eden Park, Auckland – Auckland’s ‘Stronger Together’ remembrance event for Christchurch will be hosted at Eden Park’s No. 2 ground from 2pm.
Horncastle Arena, Christchurch – a memorial jointly hosted by the local Muslim community, Christchurch City Council, Ngāi Tūāhuriri and the government. This starts at 3pm.
TSB Auditorium, Wellington – A remembrance day event in Wellington organised by FIANZ in association with Wellington City Council includes an exhibition to help New Zealanders understand the culture and values of Islam. The event will be held from 10 am – 4 pm at TSB Auditorium, Shed six on 4 Queens Wharf, Te Aro.
With lots of public events coming up this weekend, it’s important to stay home if you feel unwell and not spread your symptoms to healthy people. If you feel well and plan to attend an event, make sure you practise good hand hygiene as often as possible. https://t.co/0otI1PU7nu pic.twitter.com/WwVa3qsxXi
— Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (@minhealthnz) March 13, 2020
Womad
Status: Not cancelled
The annual three-day world music festival in New Plymouth is still going ahead. The event brings together hundreds of international performers and is attended by upwards of 15,000 people a day. Organisers say they’re taking extreme precautions.
Taranaki's massive Womad festival to go ahead with coronavirus precautions in place https://t.co/c5FVkpiOCS pic.twitter.com/uJfPfpQz3z
— Stuff Entertainment (@NZStuffEnt) March 12, 2020
Polyfest
Status: Cancelled (UPDATED)
#BREAKING: The 2020 ASB Polyfest has been cancelled following meetings between Polyfest Trust and Auckland Regional Public Health Service. #Covid19
— Checkpoint (@CheckpointRNZ) March 16, 2020
Polyfest is the highlight of the school calendar for many students and is set to run March 18-21. There has been no announcement yet on whether the annual cultural arts competition will go ahead. It was cancelled last year as organisers weighed up fears around safety and lack of police after the March 15 shootings.
New Zealand Festival of the Arts (Wellington)
Status: Not cancelled
The programme, which began February 21, finishes on March 15 and will end with no shows cancelled.
Auckland Arts Festival
Status: Not cancelled
The annual arts and music festival launched this week and runs to March 29. The performance of Place des Anges was cancelled last month owing to Covid-19-related cargo issues, but the remainder of the programme continues as scheduled.
St Patrick’s Day Parade, Auckland
Status: Not cancelled
My Chemical Romance
Status: Postponed
My Chemical Romance have postponed all Japan, Australia and New Zealand dates on their upcoming reunion tour. The band were slated to play at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland on March 25. No new date has been announced.
Alt-metal band Deftones have also postponed due to the cancellation of the Download Festival in Australia. Other international artists playing in March and April, Lenny Kravitz, Tame Impala and Alanis Morrisette, are still scheduled to go ahead as planned.
Amanda Palmer has announced she’ll be doing a webcast in lieu of her March 16 Wellington show, which will include a reading by author husband Neil Gaiman.
i am doing a WEBCAST tonight at 7pm (wellington time) in lieu of tonight’s cancelled gig. come. it will be free to the public and @neilhimself will pop in and read (he made it here, with ash, just in time), i will play & we will talk about everything. https://t.co/7ptUMtiBZ2
— Amanda Palmer 🎹 (@amandapalmer) March 15, 2020
Beacon Festival
Status: Not cancelled
As yet there have been no announcements about the open-air, electronic music festival on Auckland’s waterfront on March 14.
Corona Piha Pro
Status: Postponed
The surfing event will not take place as scheduled (March 16-22) after the World Surf League decided to postpone all of its events. There is no information as yet on when it might take place.
Spinoff Politics in Pubs
Status: Not cancelled
Hope we don’t have to because it looks really good.
Super Rugby
Status: Not cancelled
The fate of the Super Rugby season is in question due to the amount of travel involved in the tournament. The March 15 Jaguares versus Highlanders match in Buenos Aires is to be played behind closed doors in accordance with the city’s measures regarding mass events.
Scheduled games in New Zealand will go ahead as planned, although commentators are predicting severely reduced crowd numbers.
This article will be updated should anything change. For additions and amendments please contact info@thespinoff.co.nz