COVID PRACTICE AND POLICY UPDATE
Version: 9 June 2022
Status: Addition to previous policies
Author: Graham Burt, Exec Director.
At the time of writing the whole of New Zealand is under the Orange setting.
Festival One continues to follow the Government guidance which is contained at this link: https://covid19.govt.nz/traffic-lights/life-at-orange/events-and-public-facilities-at-orange/
The orange setting allows for large events of unlimited size and masks are not required either indoors or outdoors.
Clearly it is a matter of personal choice. Festival One encourages attendees to feel completely free to wear masks if they so choose, both indoors and outdoors, especially in crowded situations. We also encourage the regular use of hand sanitiser.
Festival One will update its policy to align with any subsequent Government changes of status as needed.
1 December 2021
OUR HOPE - AND A REQUEST.
Our Hope
Festival One has consistently held the position that it would welcome the Government providing mechanisms for all people to attend Festival One. We have written to the Prime Minister requesting this, and continue to ask questions of the Prime Minister’s Office specifically on this - as recently as 30 Nov 2021 - to bring this to a resolution. (The question was not answered on the night. We are promised email answers to all questions soon)
At the time of writing, Rapid Antigen Tests are now in distribution nationally and as of next week will be available commercially for both businesses and the general public. This is great progress.
However, they are not yet approved as valid forms of access.
This dilemma faces not only Festival One, but many, many churches and other gatherings of people of faith. Over 270 of us were on a zoom call last night with the Prime Minister’s office trying to get clarity on the current rules and to find out plans for the future.
It was hard, and complicated. There was no information given regarding the future - most of the questions were around definitions and trying to get a handle on what groups can and can’t do.
However, it remains our hope and prayer that by the time of Festival One Rapid Antigen Tests will have been added to the approved entry criteria. Distribution of RAT’s nationally is a very good start.
A Request
Given the incredibly fluid nature of our nation’s COVID response and the rapidly changing and evolving mandates (the requirements for large events has changed each day for the last three days!) may we make a request of you?
If you enjoy festival one, and already have your tickets and are unvaccinated please don’t make a decision to not come, yet. Our hope and prayer is that things keep changing towards what we all hope for - being able to gather as one in the name of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. That RAT’s will be available and approved for entry to our nation’s churches, home groups, youth groups and Festival One!
That is our simple request. Please wait. Things are changing rapidly. Please don’t give up hope yet. And please can we all continue to pray that the divisive and troubling burden that is upon us all will be resolved.
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BACKGROUND
The purpose of this policy is to provide clarity around COVID-19 for guests, crew and vendors. This policy follows announcements by the NZ Government on the 29th of November that the country is moving to the New Zealand Covid-19 Protection Framework (The Traffic Light System).
This Policy & Practise document follows and supersedes previous versions.
OVERVIEW
This Policy & Practise document follows the Health Department Guidelines as laid out in various documents and web pages - sources listed for your reference, and also as these are frequently are updated. Festival One will follow updates as they are provided.
Carried forward from previous versions:-
1. Festival One accepts the Government requirement for Vaccination Certificates as necessary for admission. Festival One will be controlling entry and exit of the site, Vaccination Certificates will be required, and if mandated - proof of identity. To be clear and avoid all doubt - no valid Vaccination Certificate, no entry.
2. Festival One recommends to the Government the use of Rapid Antigen Tests as an alternative method of entry to mass events, but will not accept RAT’s as a valid form of entry unless approved by the Government. As of writing RAT’s, while available, are NOT approved.
POLICY
For usefulness, this policy assumes an Orange Traffic Light for the Festival One site at Karapiro. Festival One can operate under either Orange or Green. Should a Red Traffic Light be over the Festival One site at Karapiro the event will be delayed, deferred or cancelled as in Terms & Conditions.
Festival One will follow the guidelines as laid out in two Government documents.
1. The New Zealand Covid-19 Protection Framework
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/reports/211129_CPFSummary.pdf
2. The Department of Health Guidelines for Events.
https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/covid-19-protection-framework/events/
PRACTISE
A. The Festival One site has controlled entry and exit. As such we are defined as a “Controlled Access Event”.
B. Festival One is held on a rural, open air site. There are no buildings for guest use on site other than temporary marquees. All stages are in the open air.
C. All entrants will be asked to scan the COVID QR Code.
D. A valid Vaccination Certificate is required for entry, and these may need to be verified. We will be scanning certificates, and undertaking electronic record keeping of who is on site.
E. Proof of identity may also be requested.
F. Children under 12 years and 3 months will not be required to produce a Vaccination Certificate.
G. There is no mandated limit from the Government as to the number that can attend, however we are holding our maximum ticket sales at 5,000 as part of our Resource Consent undertaking for the first two years on the new site.
H. As per the Health Department guidance for events we will be adhering to the following requirements:
https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/covid-19-protection-framework/events/
H. We are recommending to all attendees that they also follow the Health Department guidelines for personal health and behaviour as listed on their website. Even though we are a highly vaccinated country, COVID-19 can still spread in our communities.
To slow the spread of the virus, and continue to help protect you, your whānau, and your community, it is important to keep up the healthy habits we know.
I. Masks and hand sanitiser will be available for sale at the General Store.
J. Signs will be placed reminding people to undertakes the practises in H. above.
K. As this policy contains links to Department of Health websites that are constantly being updated and revised, we will accept the information contained on the links as policy unless otherwise noted here.
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BACKGROUND
The purpose of this policy is to provide clarity around COVID 19 DELTA for guests, crew and vendors. The difficulty is the ever changing political environment into which this policy falls and so this document will be iterative in nature. Please only refer to the policy that has the newest date.
OVERVIEW
This policy mostly covers the new requirements for COVID-19 DELTA and is additive to previous policy used for running Festival One 2021.
The major new requirements are those around entry to Festival One.
POLICY
To be determined once all data is known from the Govt.
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Prime Minister.
I am the Executive Director of Festival One, previously Parachute Music Festival. This is a drug and alcohol free, intergenerational Christian festival.
I have one simple question/request. We welcome the introduction of the Vaccination Passport, and in a very timely manner. Thank you.
Is it possible that one other method for entry be also put in place - saliva antigen testing on the spot?
We support a large disability community as part of Festival One and recently won the People’s Choice Access Award presented by Minister Carmel Sepuloni for our work in this area.
Many of this cohort are unable to get vaccinated for health reasons. We would have to exclude them. Could we please, please use on the spot saliva antigen testing?
This two pronged approach was used very successfully at offshore festivals, for instance Lolapalooza where they used a combination of vaccine proof and saliva antigen testing. 380,000 attendees, 205 COVID cases after 14 days.
Thank you so much for your consideration. We would love to hear back on this.
And thanks for all you are doing in these complex times. It is much appreciated.
G
Graham Burt | Executive Director
Festival One Ltd
PO Box 25-779, St Heliers
Auckland 1740
Overview
It is the goal of Festival One to operate a festival that protects the health and well being of its guests and crew. The Health and Safety Manual covers this in detail. This policy and practise document is specifically focussed on COVID-19 and is an overlay to the main Health & Safety Manual.
1.0 Situation
1.1 Festival One 2021 will be held from Friday 29th January to Monday 1st February 2021.
1.2 It is anticipated Festival One will attract 5,000 guests and approximately 1,200 artists and crew.
1.3 Festival One is a drug and alcohol free event, catering to people of all ages.
1.4 Festival One is a residential festival with guests and volunteers comping on-site.
1.5 Location is Mystery Creek Events Centre, 125 Mystery Creek Road, Ohaupo.
2.0 Mission
2.1 To offer a festival that matches the guidelines for COVID-19 provided by the NZ Government and the Waikato Hospital Public Health Department.
2.2 To ensure that systems and processes are in place to provide maximum efficiency of operation between Festival One and the public health system.
2.3 To implement practises and processes that ensure swift and appropriate remedies are taken should any guest present with the symptoms of COVID-19
3.0 Execution
3.1 General Outline.
a) Ensure that each attendees details are readily available should a contact tracing need arise.
b) Have processes and facilities in place to handle any suspected occurrence professionally.
c) Have ticketing and refund policies in place to accommodate a sudden change of level imposed by the Government or Public Health administrators.
3.2 Attendees Details.
3.2.1 Ensure that all data required by Waikato Public Health and the National COVID-19 Tracing Centre is captured either at purchase or is completed subsequently by the attendee prior to admission to site.
3.2.2 Capture data in the template that is provided by the National COVID-19 Tracing Centre.
3.2.3 Ensure that on arrival all attendees are scanned in, and details matched with ID.
3.2.4 Ensure that all departures are scanned out to ensure an accurate database.
3.2.5 Register as a location for the COVID-19 Tracer Application and display the QR prominently at entrance, exit and specific high traffic locations on-site.
3.3 Prevention
3.3.1 Use signage, social media and other means to ensure that attendees know that they need to stay away if they are feeling unwell.
3.3.2 Use the COVID-19 Tracer App Posters.
3.3.3 Supply hand sanitiser stations throughout the site and have a team to keep them replenished.
3.4 Occurence
3.4.1 Have a specially designated appropriate location to triage any guest suspected of COVID-19 symptoms.
3.4.2 Have established an approved chain of actions with Waikato Public Health - specifically the Covid Director of Public Health Dr Richard Vipond.
3.4.3 Have the Festival One medical centre staffed with trained COVID-19 responders and adequately stocked with approved PPE.
3.5 Delay, Cancellation and Refund.
3.5.1 Have appropriate protocols in place for delay, cancellation and refunds and have these covered in the ticketing terms and conditions, and easily accessible on the Festival One website and the iTicket ticket purchase platform.
3.5.2 Festival One reserves the right to delay the festival until other dates entirely if the Government or other Health agency recommends.
3.5.3 Should Festival One 2021 be cancelled for COVID-19 reasons Festival One reserves the right to offer the ticket purchaser a carry over of their ticket to Festival One 2022.
3.5.4 Should 3.5.2 not occur, and 3.5.3 not be acceptable, Festival One offers a 40% refund of ticket price.
