Kia ora.
I hope you’re having a great week.
I’m getting in touch about changes to the Covid-19 My Vaccine Pass requirements here at Te Whare Toi O Heretaunga – Hastings City Art Gallery.
The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and communities while in our facility is always our first priority. With recent community cases in Hawke’s Bay and the omicron variant on our doorsteps, Hastings District Council chief executive Nigel Bickle has confirmed that the Gallery will become a Covid-19 My Vaccine Pass facility from this coming Monday, January 24.
This means vaccine passes will become an essential part of our operating procedures here at the Gallery.
So what does this mean in a practical sense?
Firstly, and most importantly, from Monday, January 24, everyone over the age of 12 who comes into our facility will need to have their Ministry of Health-issued My Vaccine Pass scanned before entry.
This includes all visitors, artists, contractors, suppliers, and anyone else who comes to Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga. There are no exceptions, so if you cannot provide a My Vaccine Pass, you will not be permitted entry to the Gallery.
(Please note, there are Frequently Asked Questions below, but in the meantime, for more information about vaccine passes, check out this link: https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-certificates/my-vaccine-pass/)
Secondly, in the orange setting, masks are still mandatory in galleries which use My Vaccine Passes. We all have a duty of care to continue protecting our most vulnerable, so we appreciate you also continuing to sign in and wear your mask when you’re here.
We would also like to take this moment to reassure you that we have developed robust operating procedures and policies for this change. Council, and Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga, will continue to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, following Ministry of Health guidelines, in the months to come.
We want you to be well-informed, so we’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have around this. Please email us if you have any specific questions about the use of My Vaccine Passes at the Gallery.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions, otherwise be safe, be kind, and we’ll see you at Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga very soon!
Ngā mihi maioha.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m medically exempt. Can I still come to Hastings City Art Gallery?
If you are medically exempt from the vaccine and have been issued a medical exemption by the Ministry of Health, you can still obtain a My Vaccine Pass to enter the Gallery. You can do this at https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-certificates/my-vaccine-pass/
Please note, medical certificates from doctors will not be accepted. You must have a My Vaccine Pass to gain entry to the Gallery from January 24, 2022.
I don’t have a My Vaccine Pass with a QR code. Can I show you my purple vaccine record card instead?
In short, no. Ministry of Health-issued My Vaccine Passes (with scannable QR codes) are the only acceptable form of proof of vaccination for entry to the Gallery (and other Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate facilities). Please go to https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-certificates/my-vaccine-pass/ to obtain your My Vaccine Pass before you arrive at the Gallery.
Do I have to be vaccinated to drop my child/friend/whānau member off at the Gallery?
You need to have a My Vaccine Pass to enter the Gallery. So, if you’re dropping someone off you do not need to be vaccinated, as long as you do not need to accompany them into the facility. Please note, minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian/teacher at all times while on-site at the Gallery.
Can I provide a negative test to come into the Gallery instead?
In short, no. As of Monday, January 24, a Ministry of Health-issued My Vaccine Pass, which can be scanned, is the only valid form of entry to the Gallery. A negative test is not sufficient.