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An icy blast from a skier from non-compliance with Covid-19 rules causes the skifield operator to say that it is not their job to make sure people comply.
And a major retail industry group agrees, saying it is unaware of someone being asked to leave a commercial facility for not wearing a mask or following other level two guidelines.
The skier, who declined to be named, said he felt procedures had been lacking at Turoa on Sunday, compared to those he had seen at Coronet Peak and Cardrona.
Ruapehu’s alpine elevators were not enforcing their stipulation that face covers were required on elevators to allow full loading of the elevator, the plaintiff said.
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“We were in several full chairs, often shared with people without masks and sometimes people who were clearly ill with cold / flu symptoms.”
The complainant asked that the mountain operator be “fined and closed for the rest of the season” if he refuses to change his behavior.
But Ruapehu Alpine Lifts CEO Jono Dean responded by saying that skiers must take personal responsibility at alert level 2.
SWIMMING POOL
Covid’s current alert levels will remain in place until next week, but level 1 is scheduled to return to the country outside of Auckland next Monday.
“We are not enforcing the Covid-19 protocols, our job is to educate, encourage and support the plan, which is about keeping people safe,” he said in a statement.
“Thousands of people enjoyed the snow safely below alert level 2 and ski areas are satisfied that most people adhere to alert level 2 protocols.”
When asked for further comment and an interview, RAL publicist Tracey Merhtens said the statement “covered everything.”
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The Turoa ski field on Sunday in a photo provided by Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.
Taupō skier Allan Goldsmith said from Whakapapa on Monday that some people didn’t settle, but that it wasn’t a big deal.
“I just embarrass them,” he joked. “I say you’re not from Auckland, right?”
For the past three weeks he felt like he had seen more mask use at Whakapapa.
“Generally the people are quite good. Some people forget, others cannot be disturbed. It could be totally different in Turoa, but I would be surprised. “
Saturday and Sunday offered sunny and clear days and both Whakapapa and Turoa were at capacity.
At Alert Level 2, it is recommended that people consider wearing a face shield when they cannot maintain a physical distance from people they do not know.
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A publicity photo of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts of David and Eden Fan from Auckland enjoying Turoa on Sunday.
The so-called “rallies for freedom” in Auckland, currently below level 2.5, have been growing in size and few participants wear masks or observe social distancing, but while monitoring, the Police have only taken an educational approach.
Retail NZ CEO Greg Harford felt that business owners faced a difficult situation when it came to enforcing Covid guidelines and that the best approach was education and encouragement.
At level 2, wearing a mask was not required, he said, “although presumably a good idea, it is not required.”
However, he pointed out that companies, where the store was privately owned, had the right to establish the terms and conditions of entry and deny entry to those who did not comply; this could include having to wear a mask.
“But I’m not aware of anyone being asked to leave the retail facility for not complying with the rules.”
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Blue skies at the Turoa ski field on Sunday, but the apparent lack of social distancing and the wearing of masks has prompted a complaint from one skier.
RAL owns the assets of the ski slopes, but the land itself is part of the Tongariro National Park under the control of the Department of Conservation.
While acknowledging that the restrictions on the Turoa cafes worked well, the complainant said that, although he had a season pass, he would not visit the mountain again “unless some serious changes have been made.”
RAL said it worked closely with the New Zealand Ski Association (SAANZ) to establish best practice operational guidelines in a Covid-19 context.
His statement noted that he asked mountain visitors to maintain physical distancing, practice good hygiene using available hand sanitizer stations, stay home if sick, comply with movement tracking measures, and wear masks in all elevators.
