Wellington - the voluntary code for events in New Zealand will support health and hygiene standards and help with tracking and tracing.
WELLINGTON – With the lifting of restrictions on social distancing in the country, New Zealand’s Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ), together with MBIE (NZ Major Events), has released a new Voluntary Code for event organisers.
“The Code is seen as an ‘intent’ to support the government’s ongoing directive to maintain health and hygiene standards as well as track and trace. It is a way of working in an environment where there are mass gatherings for a single purpose,” said CEO of CINZ Ms Lisa Hopkins.
While entirely voluntary and not regulated or legally enforceable, the Code “shows the sector’s support for New Zealand’s efforts in the key areas of public health risk, and most particularly for enabling contact tracing,” added Ms Hopkins.
WHAT IS THE CODE ABOUT?
Under the “Covid-Code”, the business events sector agrees to take responsibility for regularly and consistently staying up-to-date with the Ministry of Health’s guidance on the response to Covid-19.
Industry members will undertake best practice to enable and encourage individuals to keep a record of where they have been. Operators are encouraged to ensure attendee information is obtained and retained (within the bounds of the Privacy Act) through whatever mechanism is best suited to the event. The sector will use reasonable measures to ensure that any person on site has the appropriate resources to undertake best practice hygiene standards.
The move has been applauded by industry professionals such as Ms Jan Tonkin, managing director of The Conference Company, who remarked that this is a “valuable initiative”.
Said Ms Tonkin, “The ‘Covid Code’ offers a roadmap for careful management of these business events. It’s a valuable initiative which has evolved from a collaboration of industry and the New Zealand Government, clearly describing the need to be able to track and trace and adhere to best-practice hygiene standards. It’s given all of us the confidence to be able to make commitments and proceed with planning.”