SkyCity Entertainment Group will follow the lead of its cross-Tasman neighbour Crown Resorts by requiring all staff and visitors to its New Zealand casinos and resorts to be fully vaccinated.
SkyCity CEO Michael Ahearne revealed the vaccine mandate at the company’s Annual General Meeting on Friday as New Zealand edges closer to the 90% vaccination rate that will see the country end its reliance on lockdowns. Instead, the government recently announced a traffic light system under which venues will be allowed to stay open but with three tiers of restrictions in place – green, orange and red.
“At all levels, businesses, retail and public facilities will generally be able to remain open for vaccinated people,” Ahearne told shareholders Friday, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
“Accordingly, our intention is that all SkyCity properties in New Zealand will operate as vaccination-only venues when the new framework comes into effect – a decision that has been made with the health and safety of our staff and customers in mind.”
Australia’s Crown Resorts, operator of Crown Melbourne, Crown Perth and Crown Sydney, revealed in September that it was introducing a “no jab, no entry” policy for customers and mandatory COVID vaccination for all employees, becoming the first operator in the region to do so.
Likewise, SkyCity will now require its 2,900 employees as well as all customers and contractors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to gain access to its sites in Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown. It is not clear if the measure will also be in place for SkyCity’s sole Australian resort in Adelaide.
“As one of the biggest entertainment venues in New Zealand, and a significant employer in New Zealand, we need to take measures to help keep Kiwis safe,” Ahearne said. “While we have existing safety controls in place to mitigate the risk of exposure to Covid-19, public health information and research confirm that Covid-19 vaccines will provide the best protection for our staff and customers.
“Supporting the vaccination targets set by the Government is going to help our industry reopen, stay open and recover faster.”
SkyCity’s flagship property, SkyCity Auckland, currently remains closed after suspending operations on 17 August due to an outbreak of COVID-19 across New Zealand’s largest city.
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