By Emma Hatton of RNZ The Covid-19 pandemic cost the country’s aviation watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), $51 million last year, with officials warning it will not keep up with ambitious plans to grow the aerospace…
Tag Archives: oceania
Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Omicron case visited Auckland nightclub Impala
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Sea lion births give hope and joy
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Sydney's New Year's Eve vantage points could close due to COVID-19
Organisers of Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations have warned ticketed vantage points overlooking the harbour could close due to growing COVID-19 cases.
Stephen Gilby, executive producer of New Year's Eve celebrations, said organisers are prepared to adapt the plans for the celebrations if the state's public health restrictions change.
"We will react to any changes in the public health order and amend our plans as we need to ensure people stay safe," Mr Gilby said.
READ MORE: Sydney hospitality venues and cruises see New Year's Eve ticket sales plummet amid COVID-19 surge
"We will be operating under the public health orders NSW Health has issued and every different vantage point or function or event that is happening will also be operating under those health orders."
It comes as the state reported a record-breaking day of COVID-19 cases, with 11201 infections recorded overnight.
The ticketed vantage points will be abiding by current restrictions for hospitality venues in NSW.
"We have six vantage points that are all in outdoor parks, but we are operating those on a one person per two square metres basis," Mr Gilby said.
EXPLAINER: NSW Health scales back contact tracing – what you need to know
People attending the vantage points for the fireworks are urged to be fully vaccinated, wear a mask, and social distance.
If you are feeling unwell, organisers have encouraged you to stay at home.
Tickets are essential for most vantage points around the harbour.
"You can't just turn up on the night, you have to pre-book but there are still tickets available," Mr Gilby said.
"So before you come in, you need to make sure you have booked your ticket."
READ MORE: New Year's Eve celebrations to go ahead in Sydney
The fireworks displays at both 9pm and midnight will go ahead, and are expected to be a "dynamite spectacular" this year.
"Both the 9pm and midnight displays have been meticulously planned to ensure the fireworks are perfectly synchronised with each show's specially created soundtrack," fireworks director Fortunato Foti said.
Preparations are currently underway for the displays, with more than 60 tonnes of equipment deployed to make sure the weather doesn't disrupt the fireworks.
This year's theme, "see Sydney shine", will feature surprise shapes, new pastel and neon colours, and more than 80,000 pyrotechnic effects.
"Whales, cubes, sunflower shells, whirlwinds and colour-changing fireworks are some of the surprises in store for Sydney's New Year's Eve 2021," Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
READ MORE: NSW COVID-19 case numbers soar over 11,000
The midnight show will feature neon, pastel-coloured fireworks, white strobe effects, colour-changing shells and silver spinning fireworks.
"The Sydney Harbour Bridge, which has 175 firing points across the bridge, as well as the Sydney Opera House, which will feature 1600 individual fireworks which is double what we would normally do," Mr Foti said.
"There will basically be 25,000 shooting comets from the Sydney Harbour Bridge alone and in excess of 9000 aerial fireworks."
Covid 19: First community exposure of Omicron in NZ confirmed, reportedly DJ Dimension
The person at the centre of New Zealand’s first Omicron community scare is believed to be an international DJ who was due to perform at a popular New Zealand summer music festival.Stuff is reporting the person infected with the…
Sea, ground and air searches underway for missing diver near Te Araroa
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Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Christchurch restaurant The Lotus-Heart penalised for multiple Covid-19 rule breaches
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Search underway in Manawatū River after reports of two people missing
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Driver injured and SH4 blocked after car crashes into tree at Raetihi
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Herald afternoon quiz: December 29
Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.