My Vaccine Pass requirements for the Ashburton Public Library, Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum, and Mt Hutt Memorial Hall will apply from Monday 20 December, Ashburton District Council Chief Executive Hamish Riach has confirmed.

Council decided this week that My Vaccine Pass would also be introduced at Council Chambers and Council’s Baring Square administration building and that these will be required there from Wednesday, 5 January 2022.

“The admin building is a more complex space and we are working through details of how it will operate. We are looking at how to ensure we have services available to those who do not have My Vaccine Pass.

“People can still arrange to talk to a building officer or other staff member (perhaps now by phone or a video call) and they can pay their rates and other fees online, as they have previously been able to.

Mr Riach said there would be no rates reduction for people unable to use Council facilities.

“Rates paid to fund our facilities are fixed charges. This revenue helps maintain the public facilities for the overall benefit of the community regardless of whether an individual uses them or not. Ratepayers have always contributed to the running of our library, museum, and open spaces, and this is not based on specific use. And we will strive to continue to offer the services just in a different way”.

Details of the contactless services will be publicised prior to Monday, 5 January.

Library Manager Jill Watson said there were contactless ways for people without My Vaccine Pass to interact with the library.

"We will be operating our Click and Collect service, where people can order their reading material via email and library staff will package it for a contactless pick-up."

A pick-up point will be by arrangement from the glass doorway at the West Street end of the library building. People wishing to use this service can call 308 7192 or email library@adc.govt.nz.

Art Gallery and Museum Director Shirin Khosraviani said people without My Vaccine Pass could still do a contactless pick-up of creative packs for the summer holidays, but these would need to be booked in advance.

Visitors can call reception on 03 307 1133 and book a pack. These will be named and left for pickup at the door.

“We will also continue to share images on our social media and websites to keep people connected. Research requests can also be done remotely through email and our archivist and collections team will be happy to help.”

EA Networks Centre has been operating with My Vaccine Pass since early December.

The My Vaccine Pass requirements will apply while the Ashburton District is at Orange and Red levels of the Covid Protection Framework, with a review to be undertaken in the event the Ashburton District moves to Green.

My Vaccine Pass will not be needed at the Ashburton Domain office and yard, camping grounds at Rangitata, Hakatere and Mt Somers, resource recovery parks and transfer stations, community and memorial halls (other than Mt Hutt Memorial Hall), outdoor community swimming pools on council land (Tinwald, Ruapuna, Rakaia, Hinds, Mayfield and Mt Somers), parks and reserves, cemeteries, playgrounds, public toilets, unstaffed camping grounds, the Ashburton Airport, and for Elderly Persons Housing.