As the government announced earlier this week, vaccine passes will become part of our lives from Friday, 3 December.

This is when the COVID Protection Framework, more commonly referred to as the Traffic Light System, will come into play. 

Our first race meeting to be run under this System will be the Canterbury JC’s twilight meeting on Friday, 3 December.  Just how many people will be able to attend will not be clear until the government indicates which “colour” the Canterbury region will enter the system.

While 1.1 million of us obtained the My Covid Pass online in the first week of its availability, it is worth noting that the process can be different and take a little more time for foreign nationals.

As we are all aware the New Zealand racing industry is made up of a hugely diverse range of nationalities, and those without a NZ passport, birth certificate or driver’s licence, will need to call 0800 222 478 to request a pass.

It is recommended that employers with foreign-born staff who are expected to attend race meetings ensure they are aware of the steps they need to ensure they have their My Covid Pass and do not leave this until the last minute.

The law change required to introduce the Traffic Light System and the use of vaccination passes will be passed under urgency this week.

NZTR expects to issue a further update once the government releases more detail and once we have worked through this with our clubs.