24 January 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Lakes DHB achieving 90% fully vaccinated
Enquiry
Reporter sought comment from Mayor Chadwick re Lakes DHB achieving 90% fully vaccinated milestone:
- What does reaching the 90 per cent milestone mean for Rotorua?
- What would you like to say to the people of Rotorua in light of this news?
Response
From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:
Reaching the 90% mark for the Lakes DHB region is a fantastic milestone although it’s been a long time coming – and the work doesn’t stop now. Vaccination is how we protect ourselves and the community and we now need to ensure people stay up-to-date with their vaccinations, we need to remain vigilant and need to keep working to reach those not already vaccinated.
I would like to acknowledge the efforts that have gone into getting our community vaccinated by the DHB, iwi and others in our local health sector. It’s a big job and a big responsibility and I think people have in recent weeks responded to the call to get vaccinated alongside growing awareness about the Omicron variant.
It’s important that we all remain very vigilant now, given the speed at which Omicron is known to spread.
We can all do our bit to help reduce the impact of COVID in our communities – get vaccinated, keep scanning wherever you go, wear masks, wash your hands, and get tested and isolate if you are unwell.
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Preparations for Omicron outbreak
Enquiry
I'm writing a story about the region preparing for an Omicron outbreak now that it is in the community in NZ, and am seeking comment from Steve Chadwick to the below:
What is your advice to the community as we prepare for an outbreak?
Do you think the region is ready for this? If so, why? And if not, why not?
Please feel free to add anything further of importance or relevance.
Response
From Mayor Steve Chadwick:
We need calm and common sense. Local health authorities and health providers have been preparing for outbreaks since COVID-19 arrived and given the expectation of more cases with Omicron, so have businesses and organisations.
Vaccination remains vital to minimising the impact of COVID-19 and not overwhelming our health services and I urge those not already vaccinated to please do so. This is urgent now and we’ve had patchy uptake despite reaching the 90% fully vaccinated mark for the Lakes region as a whole.
If people knock on your door to talk to you about vaccination, please listen. They are trying to help you, your family and the community.
I encourage everyone in our community to be prepared, be vigilant and follow national guidelines. Wear masks, scan wherever you go, wash hands, practice social distancing, get tested and stay home if you’re unwell – take the necessary precautions to minimise the impact on your families, your workplaces and your community.
Please don’t panic buy but have a plan about how you’ll manage if Omicron affects your household. There is information about this on the Unite Against COVID-19 website.
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Media: Rotorua Daly Post
Topic: Impact of red COVID setting on events
Enquiry
We’re doing a story about how event organisers are working things since the moved to red overnight, and I had a couple of questions I was hoping you could help me with for tomorrow’s paper please?
How is the change to red likely to impact on Rotorua events and visitors in the next few weeks?
How many events were likely to be affected?
How much money were events likely to bring to the region over the next two weeks? (Until Feb)
How many visitors?
Is Rotorua likely to see a decrease in visitation? (Please explain?)
May I have any comment on what kind of implications or challenges operating at red brings to event organisers?
Comment on how these have been managed in the past?
What kind of support is out there for event organisers?
Any other relevant comment?
Response
The following information was able to be provided by the deadline set by the reporter, who was also referred to Rotorua Economic Development for information relating to visitors and indicated she had also contacted RED and received comment:
The move to Red has so far resulted in the following changes to events:
- The NZ Māori Basketball Aotearoa 2022 national tournament that was due to run this week at the Energy Events Centre has been cancelled.
- Music at Band Rotunda Sunday events in February and March have been cancelled
- The RATS Blue Lake Multi-sport Festival scheduled for this Saturday has been cancelled.
- The Whaka100 (29 – 30 January) posted on their Facebook page that the 50km, 100km and 160km events will go ahead in the Whakarewarewa Forest but with some modifications to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 Protection Framework. Unfortunately the Whaka Kids, Women’s 10km and the 25km have had to be cancelled.
- A decision on the Rotorua Night and Farmers Markets will be made tomorrow (Tuesday 25 January)
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Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topics: Council interns and American Fiesta
Enquiry
Reporter sought access to series of stories RLC is running on its Facebook page re student interns who are working at Council during the summer months.
Reporter also asked if council had any images from the American Fiesta event.
Response
Reporter was provided with articles and images re RLC interns as requested.
Reporter was referred to American Fiesta organisers for images of the events.