Important information for visitors and groups regarding current Covid-19 virus outbreak.
Updated 22 March 2020
Te Manawa and the New Zealand Rugby Museum are busy visitor destinations.
Both facilities are now closed until at least 6 April 2020.
The well-being of our staff and guests is of the utmost importance to us. On the morning of your visit if you, or any member of a group that you are visiting with, are showing any symptoms that may be caused by Covid-19, please postpone your visit.
- Please ensure you wash your hands. We have multiple bathrooms available including wheelchair accessible and gender-neutral facilities.
- We have touch-less hand-sanitisers available at our points of entry.
- Please cover your mouth with your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
- If you are unwell, please do not visit, and seek medical advice immediately.
- We are currently using only contact-free greetings. Please don’t be offended when we don’t shake hands, hug or hongi our visitors.
As per the instructions of the New Zealand Government, if you are visiting from overseas, you must self-isolate for a 14-day period that begins at your time of arrival into the country. Please do not visit Te Manawa or the New Zealand Rugby Museum during this 14-day period whether you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 or not.
All events have been cancelled or postponed until at least 30 April.
This includes:
• The Curiosity Lab Chemistry Show (postponed)
• Discovery Time and Active Tots (suspended)
• Noa Open Studio (suspended)
• Heritage Tours (suspended)
• Nerf Battle and Laser Tag (postponed)
• Ravaged Beauty: An environmental history of the Manawatū, public talk.
• Community demonstrations and displays (suspended)
• After School Classes (option to transfer to Term 2 or refund for remaining weeks)
• April School Holiday programmes
• Birthday parties (full refund applies, no cancellation fee)
We will advise new dates for postponed/suspended programmes at a later time. If you have a booking for a meeting, workshop, group visit or event at Te Manawa within the next two months, a member of our team will be in touch with you to discuss alternative arrangements.
These measures affect up to 50 programmes including meetings, workshops, events, group visits and after-school classes between now and the end of April.
In addition to our standard cleaning procedures we have instituted additional cleaning routines and provide touch-free hand sanitisers in our public spaces within the museum.
Our staff have been asked to provide welcome services in the usual way, and to maintain appropriate social distancing. To this end we are using only contact-free greetings. All staff are being asked to stay home if they feel unwell, and have been briefed on support and options available to them.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
We are communicating with all schools and early childhood centres who have upcoming bookings at Te Manawa, and anyone planning a group visit in the next while.
If you think you may be infected, please postpone your visit. Contact a doctor as soon as possible to confirm a diagnosis. Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice from experienced nurses.
If you’ve booked a programme or a self-lead experience, there will be no cancellation fee, and we will do everything we can to reschedule your visit.
You will find more information about protecting yourself, your colleagues, your ākonga, and their whānau at the links below.
Ministry of Health information on Covid-19 virus
World Health Organisation information on Covid-19 virus
