Views

A ‘dogmatic focus’

Health advice from government clearly states that restrictions for public facilities are the same if the vaccine pass is used or not under any traffic light colour. Why then, should the QLDC shut out perfectly healthy people and their children from the library and recreation centre? What is the reasoning QLDC for ignoring health advice? Why confuse and conflate unvaccinated with unwell? The QLDC have chosen to implement an exclusionary policy, even though it is not required nor advised.

I am health conscious, have been an athlete my whole adult life and get great joy from regular swimming. My family are regular and supportive members of our library facilities. After assessing my own personal risk, I choose not to introduce a vaccine which is still in clinical trials into my body, but I respect others’ choices around this. Why should the QLDC lock us out from facilities that help to maintain our physical and mental health? What is the justification for taking this away from my children who cannot enter without my supervision?

Our government should have the capacity to be more creative about our covid response. There have been no alternative options provided, only a dogmatic focus on a vaccine pass. Why not allow providing a negative test, access to selected times or consideration of the needs of our children?

This loss of access to something that provides me and my family deep physical and psychological enrichment has brought me to tears, for myself, my children and our nation. The QLDC should reconsider and provide for the health and wellbeing of all its members.

Kerry Lloyd

Wānaka

Sponsored by

‘Unethical segregation’

I feel QLDC is unethical with their segregation stance in public buildings. I am a Home-school mother of three children and we need to teach “as well as a regular school”. The library is an imperative source of educational material which we visited every week.

We also visited the recreation centre weekly for organised sport and swimming. This is a much-valued space children come together for team building exercises which is essential for their social interaction.

Both the librarians and the coaches are amazing for the kids as trusted knowledgeable adults within our community which we have built personal relationships with over the years. Every child has rights to an education in this country but the divisive restrictions QLDC has put upon us are compromising ours/the parents and our children’s right in this community, not to mention their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Many other councils - Kawerau, Tasman, Waitaki, Gore, Upper Hutt and New Plymouth (to name a few) have chosen not to do this as each district council has a choice.

So why is QLDC being so callous?

Amelia Olley

Luggate

The Queenstown Lakes District Council responds:

QLDC acknowledges that some members of our community have had to make difficult decisions. The decisions made by Council on this subject are also not made lightly. Like other councils across the country they are based on direction from Central Government.

Nationally, there are some facilities where it is mandated for customers to have a vaccine pass (such as a gym) and others where it is legally prohibited to require customers to show vaccine passes such as a pharmacy or other essential service as defined by the Government. Several services, including swimming pools and libraries, don’t fit into either category and so they may (and should) undertake their own risk assessments to decide whether proof of vaccination is required.

QLDC has based its decisions on its own risk assessments as we move into a new phase of living with Covid-19. These have centred on staff and community wellbeing, continuity of service (i.e. being able to maintain Council services to the community even in the event of a widespread outbreak, and ensure our staff’s ability to respond in any Emergency Management situation; we can’t do this if large numbers of Council staff are sick or self-isolating).

Moreover, our district has key differences to other locations. We have a high volume of visitors using our public facilities which presents a higher potential risk.

We have an extremely high vaccination rate across the district so most people will be able to continue to use our facilities as usual. For those who can’t, or have chosen not to get vaccinated at this time, we have a growing range of online and contactless services – such as those provided by our libraries – that enable these members of our community to still participate in some form. Our offices in Queenstown and Wānaka also remain open to all.

Crimeline

A Andrew Bremner

Constable, NZPD

Kia ora Wānaka. Not too many sleeps now until Santa arrives. I hope everyone has made it on to his nice list and not the naughty list.

Whilst mentioning the naughty list, it appears that the message about “don’t drink and drive” is still not sinking in for some people. Six people were processed for drink driving in Wānaka over the past seven days. These six people either received a fine or find themselves having to explain their actions to a Judge at Court. A mention must also be made about the people who drink and drive, are stopped by Police, breath tested and return a positive test for alcohol but don’t quite breach the limit. None of the above are acceptable behaviours. If you are heading out, arrange for a safer option to safely return you to your home. Please don’t drink and drive, we are out there, and you will be caught. See you at our next checkpoint.

Wānaka Police attended several family harm incidents over the past week. The circumstances of each incident varied. Alcohol is a major contributing factor to family harm incidents. Please remember how your actions can affect others. Christmas can be a tough time in many ways. If you are struggling or need to talk, please remember there are a number of services on offer at the Wānaka Community Hub on McDougal Street.

With the changing of the Covid-19 Protection Framework to the Traffic Light System, the majority of us are working together and doing a great job. However, there seems to be the odd person who still wants to push the boundaries. Please respect each other and comply with the orange light guidelines.

The Wānaka Police have been busy this week out on the streets. I’m sure many of you have seen us out and about. But, as above, many of you are not getting the message. Speeding – No! Cell phones while driving – No! Wearing your seatbelt – Yes! If you speed, use your cell phone or don’t wear your seatbelt, we will stop you and issue you an infringement notice.

Cyclists, you get a worthy mention too. If you do not wear a helmet or ride in the dark hours with no lights, you will also be stopped by police and receive an infringement notice. There are no excuses.

This week also presented a number of occurrences between known parties who have some type of falling out and then one or both parties go and threaten the other. Please refrain from getting on to your phone and ringing or sending an abusive/threatening message to someone due to the heat of the moment. This will only land in the hands of the police and end badly.

On a positive note, the holiday period is just around the corner. Please enjoy yourself and be safe. Make good decisions and choices. Look after each other. Keep Wānaka a safe and friendly community to live in and enjoy all that it offers.

PS: Remember the local liquor ban - Christmas / New Year period - from 6am December 27 until 6am January 6, 2022.

Ka kite.

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