New Zealand Major Events update.
May 7, 2020
Kia ora koutou,
As you are all aware, it has been a tremendously difficult few weeks for our event sector. You will no doubt have heard the Prime Minister’s announcements today on the intended Alert Level 2 restrictions, which will continue to have a profound impact on our sector.
New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been health-led. The decisions to move through the alert levels, when and how, are principally public health decisions – made to make sure COVID-19 is well and truly under control. Our ability to eliminate COVID-19 now, and to keep it away, will determine our long-term wellbeing.
Much of our work in the last 6 weeks has been to provide information to policy makers, so that the implications of those health-led decisions are understood and considered for our sector. I want to thank those of you who have shared your knowledge and insights with us.
Understanding the rationale behind decisions doesn’t change the impact on our event sector here, or around the world. The government’s support packages have sought to cushion the blow for businesses and workers, but it has also been made clear that they cannot and will not save every business or job. Your respective requests for assistance have not gone unheard in the design of these.
Most recently, Minister Twyford also met with 3 of the industry associations (CINZ, EVANZ and NZEA) and asked them to jointly provide an overview of the sector, including its immediate needs. We will be working through this information with the associations next week, to then share with the Minister.
Across various strands of work we are also making clear the role that events can play in recovery for social wellbeing, tourism and economic development. There is no doubt the events sector here and internationally is going to look different coming out of this unprecedented time; but events will certainly have a role in New Zealand’s recovery.
The best sources of information in our current environment remains the government’s official website on covid19.govt.nz, business.govt.nz and the Ministry of Health website. This ensures you are always seeing the latest and most accurate information, as changes can in some cases be quickly made; for this reason we have not replicated any information on our own NZ Major Events website.
Since the beginning of the national lockdown, COVID-19 has shifted priorities for our own team. Fiona Dally, Deborah Pathak and Libby Crysell have all moved full-time onto COVID-19 response roles until further notice. This means your primary contacts are:
- Susan Sawbridge, Manager
- Lisa Gibson and Hollie Ellis, Major Events Fund
- Drew Naika, bid events and the Creative & Cultural Event Incubator
- Hannah Keat, America’s Cup.
Please continue to keep in touch with us, as you have done throughout this period. We are working as hard for you as we can, and we will share anything we have when we’re able to.
From all of us at New Zealand Major Events, we hope you and your families remain safe and well.
Susan Sawbridge
Manager New Zealand Major Events
New Zealand Major Events
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment