3rd November Update – An Important Message from Auckland Hockey re Summer Hockey 

Monday’s Government announcement reiterated that Auckland and New Zealand continue to face an uncertain environment.

Some key dates for Auckland Hockey in light of the announcement: 

Saturday November 13 – RPC groups will be invited to skill sessions at LEP under level 3 step 2 restrictions. No Spectators.

Sunday November 14 – Masters Squads will be invited to skill sessions at LEP under level 3 step 2 restrictions. No Spectators.

Summer competitions – restart depending on both Govt and SNZ advice on contact sports under Level 3, Step 3, expected later this week or early next week. At the very earliest Monday Nov 22 TBC.

Monday November 22 – Inaugural AKH Golf Day – Postponed to Monday March 14th 2022

The next update will be published after the next major announcement.

The COVID-19 Protection Framework and Vaccinations 

Background for Stakeholders:

For Auckland Hockey a complex puzzle exists as we are part sporting organisation, workplace, outdoor event provider, hospitality provider, and Auckland Council community facility owner, operating in a moving alert level framework.

Two weeks ago the Government  announced the next stage of the COVID-19 response plan to provide a pathway out of lockdown and give vaccinated New Zealanders more freedom – the COVID-19 Protection Framework or Traffic Light system.

The Government needs to pass urgent legislation in the coming weeks to support the new Framework and there is still ongoing policy work to confirm the details. The Government is aiming to have this legislation passed and more detailed sport sector-specific guidance available by the end of November that will flow to us from both SNZ and HNZ. We will provide more information and the implications for our summer competitions and programmes as soon as we can.

What is known is that the three steps of Alert Level 3 will remain in place until Auckland reaches 90 per cent vaccination, at which point the Traffic Light framework takes over.

Vaccinations: requiring vaccination certificates will likely be important for providers like us. Again, it is expected a range of sectors like Hospitality and Outdoor Event providers may legally choose to implement a vaccination entry requirement for customers.

Risk assessment process: also announced was a new law that will include a simplified risk assessment process for employers to follow when deciding whether they can require vaccination for different types of workers. Until the new law is passed, organisations like ours can use the existing health and safety risk assessment process to decide whether we can require vaccination for our employees and contractors.

Therefore, a key message for Auckland Hockey stakeholders is that vaccination is imperative for summer players if we are to move forward.

To date we have strongly encouraged vaccinations for the eligible. We propose to make it mandatory for our staff, contractors and volunteers working with us to be vaccinated by the start of our summer programmes and competitions. This is about protecting our summer hockey community. Having said this, and via our consultation to date, our Board, Coaching and Bar and Office staff, have all shown unequivocal support for their colleagues and the players in the summer programmes with 100% of them already vaccinated.

Auckland Hockey believes it is important we enable the freedom of those summer players who are vaccinated so that they can enjoy the benefits of the protection they have. While we understand there may be a variety of views about vaccination, as a community regional sporting organisation it is our duty to promote and create a safe environment for all players in our care, competitions, and our staff, following  the public health advice we have been provided.

Auckland Hockey aim to operate effectively during Alert Level 3, steps 2 and 3, and to safely welcome you all back to LEP.  No  spectators will be allowed  until Alert Level 3 Step 3, and exact numbers will be confirmed closer to the time.

In readiness for the Traffic Light Framework and any mandated legislation which may be put in place by the Government (as early as November 15th – December 1st)  there are eleven points below we should all be aware of as a summer hockey community to prepare:

1. Any player 12 and over playing in an Auckland Hockey Summer Competition or enrolled in one of our Summer programmes mayTBC be required to show proof to AKH personnel  via a screenshot on their phone of their Vaccination Record via the COVID19 Tracer App.  The steps to enact this record are listed below.
2. The vaccination requirement may TBC apply to all 12 and over spectators at LEP if and when they are able to return under restriction levels.
3. Where a participant has a genuine medical reason  for non-vaccination, a doctor’s certificate may be required to be shown to AKH staff.
4.  Under 12 participants may not be required to be vaccinated until the Government approves and mandates vaccinations for this age group.
5. Participants should stay at home if unwell or experiencing covid symptoms and seek a covid test and medical support.
6. Participants will be required to  social distance at LEP according to the restriction level in place.
7. Participants may need to wear a mask according to the restriction level in place.
8. Participants should at all times practice covid hygiene protocols.
9. Toilets only will be open at LEP. Changing rooms will be closed under level 3.
10. The Bar/cafe will be a pop up outdoor bar at Level 3, Step 3,  and only available to players.
11. Turfs on school sites and Ministry of Education land are highly unlikely to be available to us under Alert Level 3 and not open again until the old Alert Level 2 or 1 (Traffic Light system).

Finally, and again, we strongly encourage all eligible summer players to follow our staff and vaccinate. This will help us create a safe community sport environment and come out of lockdown safely.

The Auckland Hockey Team and myself  look forward to welcoming you back to Hockey soon.

Manoj Daji

CEO Auckland Hockey

** Steps to enact your vaccination record on the Contact Tracer App (if you haven’t already ) are as  follows:

You can access your Vaccination Record via the COVID19 Tracer App. 

1. 1. Open the Covid Tracer App
   2. Select Dashboard tab (bottom left)
   3. Select More Info
   4. Select My Covid Record link
   5. Create a My Health Account (create an account via email or RealMe Login) and follow the instructions. You will need to create an account using details from your  NZ Passport, Drivers Licence, etc.
   6. Vaccination Record is created.

It takes about 5 minutes and is an easy way to demonstrate to anybody very quickly your vaccination record.