Sport New Zealand Sector Update: 

As you will be well aware, the latest COVID-19 news has seen Aotearoa move to Alert Level 4 with a number of positive cases identified in Auckland. The Prime Minister has announced a three-day lockdown for the majority of the country with Auckland and the Coromandel in lockdown for seven days which came into effect at 11.59pm on Tuesday 17 August. As a result, we thought it would be helpful to highlight the latest COVID-19 information and remind you that the team at Sport Canterbury are here to help. 

Here to Help:

Sport Canterbury will once again look at what we can put in place to support the sector if the lockdown extends beyond the initial three days.  

In the meantime, stay safe, look out for each other and if we can assist, please reach out. 

Latest COVID-19 Information:

It is important that we focus on the official information sources as these are kept up to date by the authorised agencies. If you haven’t read the Sport New Zealand Alert Level Guidance for some time, we encourage you to take another look. There is more definition and clarity in a lot of areas since the early versions.  

• For the latest government information, visit www.covid.govt.nz 

• For information and guidelines for sport, recreation and play at each Alert Level, visit Sport NZ’s Alert Level Guidance  
• For guidance about what you can do in the workplace at COVID-19 alert levels, visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. 
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A reminder About Alert Level 4 for Sport, Recreation and Play: 

• Only essential services are able to operate 

• All indoor venues and sporting facilities, including clubrooms and gyms, are closed 
• Organised sports and physical activity are not allowed outside of your bubble 
• You can train at home, or outdoor places in your local area. Maintain physical distancing with people outside your bubble. 
• Contact activity or sharing equipment/balls with people outside your bubble is prohibited 
• All water-based activities are prohibited because these activities expose participants to danger or may require search and rescue services. 
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New Public Health Order - Guidelines on Mask Wearing:

As of 11:59pm last night, it is mandatory for people aged 12+ to wear a mask when visiting essential services (supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations). With this in mind, there may be some confusion as to the rules that apply for mask wearing more broadly, such as when undertaking physical activity outdoors.

Under Alert Level 4, you should stay home, but you can leave to undertake physical activity, such as walking and running locally. When exercising outdoors (eg: running or cycling) you are not required to wear a mask. You should take special care to keep at least 2 metres between yourself and anyone outside of your bubble but a face covering is not required.

Financial Support for Organisations Affected by Lockdown:

To support organisations during the current Level 4 lockdown the government has activated the following financial support for businesses:

• The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) is available nationally when there is a regional or national move to Alert Levels 3 and 4 for a period of seven days and helps eligible businesses keep paying staff and protect jobs. The rates have been raised to reflect increased wage costs.
• The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) is a payment to help support businesses or organisations with a 30% reduction of revenue due to a COVID-19 alert level increase to level 2 or higher. This is available to eligible firms at the same time as the WSS.

The criteria for these payments are expected to be the same as for previous lockdowns. Charities, not-for-profit organisations and incorporated societies are expected to be eligible for this assistance, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements.Work and Income website for the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Inland Revenue website for the Resurgence Support Payment.

He waka eke noa | We are all in this together  

Article added: Friday 20 August 2021