COVID-19 information for event organisers

Event Sector Voluntary Code

This Event Sector Voluntary Code (Code) outlines a high-level overview of what the event sector can do to safely deliver events.

The Code provides best practice expectations on running events and is based on Ministry of Health guidance to reduce COVID-19 related risks. It will enable the event sector to appropriately support the Ministry of Health to contact trace if an outbreak of COVID-19 were to occur. This Code is not intended to replace existing systems and processes that the event sector have in place in accordance with existing legal obligations, nor is it legally binding.

The Code has been developed by the event sector in consultation with New Zealand Major Events at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

A collateral pack has also been put together to help support conversations around the Code, and educate both stakeholders and attendees of the importance of the Code principles. This collateral pack can implemented by those listed under ‘Who is the Code for?’.

Who is the Code for?

• Event management professionals
• Promoters, owners, agencies and production organisations
• Suppliers and service providers
• Venues
• Governing bodies.

What does the Code include?

• Commitment to the Ministry of Health guidance
• Facilitates effective contact tracing
• Record retention guidance
• Ways to ensure health of operators and attendees
• Encourages a culture of best practice COVID-19 risk management.

How to use the Code

• Review the principles of the Code to determine where they might be overlaid alongside your existing health, safety and risk management plans.
• You may also publish this Code on your website and/or other communications channels, such as sharing with your internal and external networks.

Download the Events Sector Voluntary Code [PDF, 95 KB]

Download the Event Sector Voluntary Code Collateral Pack [ZIP, 3.4 MB]

Public Events at Alert Level 1

At Alert Level 1, there are no physical distancing requirements or limits on the number of people who can attend social gatherings or events. However, all workplaces and businesses (including event sites) legally must display the government’s official QR code, which can be scanned by the COVID-19 Tracer App, for each location. The Event Sector Voluntary Code has also been developed for event organisers to operate safely and all events are encouraged to commit to the Code.

Detailed information on operating events at each Alert Level is available on the COVID-19 website(external link)

Under all Alert Levels, all businesses and services are required to display the official NZ COVID Tracer QR code posters in a prominent place at or near the main entrances to each of their premises.

More information on how to get your QR code posters is available on the COVID-19 website(external link)

Public Events at Alert Level 2

Event facilities can operate at Alert Level 2. Event facilities can have up to 100 people within any defined space. They also need to assess how many people can safely be inside the premises and still maintain 1 metre physical distancing. This could mean the facility needs to have fewer than 100 people in a defined space.

If you go to an event facility, you legally must keep 1 metre physical distance from people you don’t know, where possible — if you can't, consider wearing a face covering.

Defined Spaces

A defined space is a single indoor or outdoor space separated from other spaces.

If a place has more than 1 defined space, then people should not intermingle between the defined places. This includes when entering, leaving, or using the toilet. It does not include workers.

This also applies to separate businesses that work from the same location.

Indoors

An indoor space is a single space if there are walls that substantially divide that space from other spaces. The walls can be permanent or temporary.

Outdoors

An outdoor space is a single space if there:

• are walls that substantially divide that space from other spaces — the walls can be permanent or temporary, or
• is at least 2 metres between all people in that space and any other people (outside that space).

Detailed information on operating events at each Alert Level is available on the COVID-19 website(external link)

Under all Alert Levels, all businesses and services are required to display the official NZ COVID Tracer QR code posters in a prominent place at or near the main entrances to each of their premises.

More information on how to get your QR code posters is available on the COVID-19 website(external link)

Public Events at Alert Level 3

At Alert Level 3 gatherings of any size are cancelled and public venues are closed. Gatherings such as concerts and sporting events pose a high risk for transmission of infectious diseases.

Under all Alert Levels, all businesses and services are required to display the official NZ COVID Tracer QR code posters in a prominent place at or near the main entrances to each of their premises.

More information on how to get your QR code posters is available on the COVID-19 website(external link)

Detailed information on operating events at each Alert Level is available on the COVID-19 website(external link)