Our committee has been working with the council on a replacement and upgrade of the public toilets located in the hall car park. The plan is for the new block to be positioned on the same side of the car park as the existing block but moved to the rear. This will provide a better view of the hall from the road and improve pedestrian safety. We feel the proposed design fits in well with the aesthetics of the hall and reserve. If you have any comments please could these be provided before 31st January.

Auckland Council has sent through the following guidance on reopening of community facilities. Your Whangateau Hall committee is a volunteer organisation, and we do our best to provide access to our lovely hall to the community, and keep the community safe. We appreciate your support and patience as we all move through this crisis.

Advice from council:

Will visitors to your centre need a vaccination certificate?

Council has also begun a piece of work on whether visitors to our facilities will require vaccination certificates. We are looking at multiple options as the COVID-19 Protection Framework does not require public facilities to check vaccination certificates for up to 100 people distancing one metre. We will provide the outcome of this work with you when it is available (no date yet). Individuals can get a vaccine pass from the Ministry of Health website.

The new COVID-19 Protection (traffic light) Framework.

This week we’ve had enquiries around council’s expectations when interpreting the new framework to enable a safe re-opening and ability to provide services for your customers. As mentioned, we are actively working on interpreting the Government guidance and will share decisions and guidance with you.

We support our partners to interpret their unique spaces and to make decisions in response to the framework on what programmes and activities can go ahead in your facility.

Advice from our Connected Communities Department is to ‘keep it simple’ because you are likely in the challenging position of trying to uphold new rules for entry and participation. Should you have doubt around how to engage your community, the kind of programmes you can provide and the size of audience you may expect, don’t complicate activity. Think about what is manageable for your team when developing and implementing your plans and adapt as you go

The New Zealand COVID-19 Protection Framework (Red/Orange/Yellow) link:

https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/COVID-19-Protection-Framework/COVID-19-Protection-Framework-22-October-2021.pdf

Summary of Red:

Action needed to protect health system – system facing unsustainable number of hospitalisations. Action needed to protect at-risk populations.

• QR code scanning or registering on record sheet is mandatory
• Masks are mandatory in public venues and recommended whenever leaving home
• Public events and gatherings indoors/outdoors of up to 100 people based on 1 metre distancing with a vaccine certificate
• If no vaccination certificate is used, gatherings indoors/outdoors cannot take place

Refresher on current Alert Level 3.2: As we are currently at Alert Level 3 Step 2 and Auckland Council’s network of public facilities including community centres, art galleries, libraries, and halls can reopen, the information we provided last week is still relevant.

The Government has announced “steps” that modify our current Level 3 restrictions, but we do not yet have guidance from the Council on how that affects our current rules. For the time being, Whangateau Hall is open to

1. Groups of 10 or fewer only, for periods of 2 hours or less.
2. Face coverings and contact tracing are mandatory.
3. Maintain physical distancing of 2m for non-bubble members.
4. Open as many windows and doors as possible when inside the hall to allow airflow, and use the back lawn rather than the interior for groups when possible.

At Level 2, our capacity will increase to 40 people, but all other rules will stay in place.

Next verse, same as the first …

Auckland will be at Alert Level 4 for at least another two weeks. What that means in practical terms:

• Whangateau Hall is off limits to all users.
• Folk Club with PLot on 30 August and Concert with Good Habits on 10 September are both cancelled.
• If you had an event booked during the lockdown period, contact Jenine to get any bond or deposit refunded.
• The hall may be used for pandemic related purposes (testing and vaccination) upon special arrangement.

Check back here for further information!

July club night is Monday the 26th.  Our guests will be the incredible Looking for Alaska, rescheduled from our March Club night.  The music they make is simply phenomenal: soaring acoustic ballads driven by Aaron Gott’s instrumental brilliance and Amy Maynard’s powerful, soaring vocals.  They are a band not to be missed!

Monday, July 26, $10, 6:45pm doors open, 7pm floor singers, guests after the half time supper break.

We are sad to have to report that the We Mavericks show on Sunday, 27 September has been cancelled due to the collapse of the Australia – New Zealand travel bubble.

In its place we will have the second instalment of the Whangateau Folk Radio Hour, special guests to be announced.

Click here for the Whangateau Folk Radio Hour!

the stream is AUDIO ONLY!  if you want to see the actual people, you’ve got to come to the hall!

We’re trying something new at the Whangateau Folk Club this month.  Introducing the Whangateau Radio Hour

It’s winter time and we all need something to warm our hearts. What better than an old-fashioned radio show? Broadcast live from Whangateau Hall, four of New Zealand’s finest folk musicians will make beautiful music and entertain you. Come by for a bowl of soup, a glass of wine, and a show!

You’ll hear:
Jenine and Nat Torkington, from the Pipi Pickers. Jenine’s moving voice, Nat’s unique banjo, and Jenine’s anchoring bass will warm your extremities.
Chris ‘Albi’ Dent, from Albi and the Wolves. Chris’s character-filled voice and distinctive guitar playing have wowed audiences around the world.
Shimna Higgins, from David and Shimna. Shimna’s divine voice and sweet Irish fiddle playing are the fiery brew the doctor prescribes for midwinter blues.

We’ll livestream the show to an international audience from the acoustically- and aesthetically-beautiful 132-year old Whangateau Hall. Tell your friends to watch the stream on the night: visit https://whangateau.co.nz to find links to the stream.

Monday, June 28, $10, 6:45pm doors open, 7pm floor singers, 8pm break, 8:30pm radio show.

Another month has come and gone, as hard as that is to believe. Tonight (Monday, 31 May) is our monthly club night! This month local legend John Green is taking the stage as our guest artist. He will also be joined by his son for part of his set!

This being a club night, we will have a first half of floor singers. Come early to claim your place amongst our other talented locals!

Doors open at 6:45 for a 7:00pm show. $10 at the door. See you there!

It is with regret we have had to cancel the concert for Friday, 19 April 2021 with Gillian and Bob.  Our next event is Monday, 29 March.  Club night with second half guests Looking for Alaska!  $10, 7pm.  Email Jenine for a 1st half floor spot.