What Hamilton looks like at red

Yes

Our facilities – including Hamilton Zoo, Waikato Museum, pools, libraries and cemeteries – are open. However, there are extra safety measures in place to keep you, your whaanau and our community safe.

When entering a Council facility, you must:

• Wear a face covering indoors or in crowded places where physical distancing isn't doable.

There will also be restrictions to the number of people allowed inside some of our facilities. This will be based on allowing 1m social distancing.

Yes.

Our library branches are all open. Vaccine passes are no longer required. 

We do have some fantastic options for anyone who cannot or does not want to visit our branches in person, including Click and Collect and e-Services.

Find out more about these services.  

Find out more about the COVID-19 safety measures in place at our libraries.

Yes.

They are open from 10am to 5pm each day. Vaccine passes are no longer required.

There are also restrictions on the number of visitors allowed inside at one time. This is to keep you, your whaanau, and our community safe.

You are also required to wear a face covering inside our facilities, and we encourage you to wear one in crowded outdoor areas if it is difficult to physically distance. Staff and volunteers working are all vaccinated.

Yes.

The Zoo is open to visitors. Vaccine passes are no longer required, though there are restrictions on the number of visitors allowed inside at one time. This is to keep you, your whaanau, and our community safe.

We ask that all visitors 12 years and over wear a mask while visiting the Zoo, to help protect other visitors, our staff and our animals.

Find out more information.

Yes.

They are open. Vaccine passes are no longer required, though there are restrictions on the number of visitors allowed inside at one time. This is to keep you, your whaanau, and our community safe.

You are also required to wear a face covering inside our facilities, and we encourage you to wear one in crowded outdoor areas if it is difficult to physically distance.

There are also no public events or venue hire available at red of the traffic light system.

Yes.

Our pools, gym, fitness classes and other services will be open to use.

We ask customers to wear a face mask in the reception and shared spaces – such as waiting in line at the café – however, we do not expect you to exercise with a face mask as it is not safe to do so.

We encourage our customers to shower at home. 

Find out more information.

Public facilities are Council-owned facilities that all people can access if they follow the wider rules for the facilities. Private facilities must follow the rules for gatherings.   

No.

Rates paid for facilities are fixed charges based on calculations for expenditure throughout the year. These rates are not targeted, and everyone pays the same rates for these services regardless if they want to use these or not.

Wherever possible, we have contactless services available (e.g., Click and Collect at our libraries) so customers have the option of accessing services without entering facilities.

Yes.

Please wear a face covering when inside our facilities. Our staff are all required to wear face coverings, too. This is to keep you, your whaanau, and the community safe.  This is a condition of entry unless you have a health-related exemption.

If you have a health-related exemption, please let our staff know and make sure you have your exemption on-hand.

Yes.

Public transport is an essential service for getting people to and from work and those requiring healthcare. 

Groups and organisations leasing Council's facilities will have their own plans and processes for keeping the community safe.

If you have questions about a specific organisation or community group leasing Council-owned building or land, get in touch with them to find out what precautions they're taking.

Yes.

School Curriculum events such as Swimming Sports and Athletics can go ahead as long as they follow the Government's COVID-19 and Sport NZ guidelines.

Yes.

Parks and playgrounds are open even at red of the traffic light system. We encourage people to use our green spaces for fresh air and exercise.

We encourage you to maintain a 1m distance away from people you don't know to keep you, your whanau, and the wider community safe.

If you need help, you can call our Customer Services team on 07 838 6699. You can also email us on info@hcc.govt.nz or message us on Facebook.

You can do business with Council online through our website.

To pay your rates online, you can visit here.

If you need help, you can call our Customer Services team on 07 838 6699. You can also email us on info@hcc.govt.nz or message us on Facebook.

Yes.

Events can go ahead at red. The event organiser and venue hirer can decide if they want to use the My Vaccine Pass for their event.

Council-run events no longer need My Vaccine Passes.

There can be up to 200 people (not including staff) in a defined space at a venue at any time, based on 1-metre physical distancing.

Read more about holding or attending an event at red.

Yes.

Any events over 200 people may need to be modified, postponed or cancelled. We recommend you keep an eye on event sites and social media or contact the event organiser for specific event updates.

Events can go ahead at red, although they will have restrictions and access must be controlled e.g., through fencing.

Controlled-access events involve ticketing, registration or another way to control access. They can be held either at a commercial or private venue.

Read more about what this means here.

Yes.

You can visit and gather with people at red.

Up to 200 people can gather at a home, private dwelling, or venue in accordance with Central Government guidelines.

Find out more about gatherings at orange of the traffic light system.

Yes.

Funerals, tangihanga, burials and viewing of tūpāpaku (the person who has died) can go ahead at orange.

It is up to the venue and the family to agree whether the funeral or tangihanga is open to people with My Vaccine Pass or to a mix of people with or without the pass. If My Vaccine Pass requirements are followed, there can be up to 200 people at a funeral.

Find out more about funerals and tangihanga at red of the traffic light system.

Your funeral director will have the best advice for you. Get in touch with them for more information about what funerals and tangihanga look like at orange of the traffic light system.

No.

My Vaccine Passes are no longer required for the two chapels at Newstead.

No.

My Vaccine Passes are no longer required at council facilities. 

Anyone can visit a gravesite or wander through our cemeteries as these are considered parks. 

Yes.

Anyone is welcome to visit gravesites as they are open spaces. We encourage you to keep 1m distance from people you don't know, wear a face covering in crowded places, and stay home if you're unwell.

No.

Services must be managed by funeral directors only. However, we are working closely with loved ones to accommodate needs as best we can.  

Yes.

You can travel from anywhere to attend.