Mōrena koutou katoa,  

And a warm welcome to Alert Level 3 Tāmaki Makaurau.  

You will know that as of midnight: 

• Auckland has shifted to Alert Level 3 for at least two weeks. 
• The rest of the country remains in Alert Level 2 – with a change in gathering numbers to 100 both indoors and outdoors. This applies to the sport and recreation context. 

Updated alert level tables carrying detailed guidance are available on our web site. Please continue to refer to these tables to understand the guidelines for sport, recreation and play at each alert level.  For more information about general restrictions and travel in Alert Level 3, visit the United Against Covid web site. 

As always, if you have any questions, please contact your Partnership Manager or send COVID-19 related queries to this address: Covid19response@sportnz.org.nz.  

Please check first that your query is not covered in our new list of frequently asking questions covering mask wearing, vaccination requirements, alert level travel, contact tracing, hosting events, serving food in sports clubs and gathering limits. 

Sector Guidance for Auckland in moving to Alert Level 3

 
A reminder that Alert Level 3 restrictions allow for a broader range of sport and recreation activities as long as they do not expose the participant to danger or have any risk of necessitating search and rescue services. In summary: 

• Public venues are closed. This includes gyms and pools, as well as public and school playgrounds. 
• You are able to drive within your region to a public space, for example, a beach or park however physical distancing should be maintained.  
• Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed but only for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. 
• Personal trainers and professional coaches must work from home and use online and video conferencing facilities to deliver their training. 
• Any activities that may expose the participant to danger or may require search and rescue services are not permitted. This means you should not participate in activities such as hunting in remote areas, back country tramping, rock climbing, mountaineering, any form of back country snow sports and mountain biking at grade 3 or above. Short walks (up to 3 hours total) on easy trails are permitted.  
• Longer rides/runs (within your region) are ok. Although they should still be low risk and you should be self-sufficient (able to get home without outside assistance if something goes wrong). 
• Mountain biking on known easy trails for experienced mountain bikers is permitted. 
• Outdoor sports are permitted where 2 metres physical distancing is possible e.g. golf, tennis, bowls. Conditions apply including that public facilities must be closed, a COVID-19 safety plan must be in place, common touch points must be minimized, equipment must not be shared and activities can only be with others in your bubble. 
• Some water activities are possible. These activities include swimming, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, windsurfing and paddle boarding. High risk activities are discouraged. We recommend you remain within close range of the shore (no more than 200m away). Activities involving sailing boats, motorised boats and diving are not permitted. 
• Fishing from a wharf or surfcasting from the beach is permitted, but people should not fish from rocks (because of the increased drowning risk). 

Change to Alert Level 2 for the rest of Aotearoa 

New Zealand except for Auckland remains in Alert Level 2. However there has been a change to gathering limits. Gatherings of 100 are now permitted indoors and outdoors as long as all other conditions are met such as contact tracing and public hygiene measures. Please refer to our Alert Level 2 table online for detailed guidance. 

Thank you for continuing to keep New Zealand moving in what are difficult and stressful times. As we know, sport and recreation is essential to physical and mental health, and whatever we can do to encourage and motivate the nation at this time is of immense importance and value.  

Ngā mihi,  

Raelene Castle 

Chief Executive