Marlborough District Council is implementing a new COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for its employees under the national COVID-19 protection Framework, after a full staff consultation process.

The ‘COVID-19 Vaccination Policy - Workers’ was finalised today and is available to staff.

Chief Executive Mark Wheeler said the Council is committed to keeping its workers, and other people with whom workers come into contact, healthy and safe.

“Our policy provides Council’s position on COVID-19 vaccinations for workers and sets out processes and expectations for roles that may require vaccination due to increased health and safety risks.”

For the public, the changes mean a My Vaccine Pass is now required at:

• Marlborough District Libraries (Blenheim and Picton) at the Red setting (from Tuesday 8 February).
• All programming at both libraries at the Orange setting.

Visitors aged 12 and over will be asked to show their vaccine pass at Marlborough’s two library facilities on arrival from next Tuesday.

“It does mean anyone in the Picton area who uses the Customer Service Centre there and is unvaccinated will need to conduct their business with us online at www.marlborough.govt.nz, via phone on 03 520 7400, or by visiting the Council front desk in Blenheim.”

“The feedback from our library staff was strongly in favour of My Vaccine Pass as an additional control. We’re requiring it because we must look after our staff, customers and visitors, contractors and volunteers. Our priority is keeping everyone safe.”

“I’d like to thank all our staff for helping manage our work environment, which is challenging under the Red alert level.”

Library staff will be separating into bubbles from Tuesday 8 February. To accommodate this change the opening hours of the libraries will change.

Marlborough District Library (Blenheim) hours will be as follows:

Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm.

The opening hours at Picton Library and Service Centre's Waitohi Whare Mātauranga will be:

Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm.

The half hour closure in the middle of the day allows for the teams to change without interacting.

Weekend hours will remain as normal.

“Our libraries team are preparing a ‘takeaway’ service for those who are unable to access the library buildings.”

“This service is for all customers who cannot or do not want to come into the libraries, but would still like to access our physical collections. A customer can make a request for library items via an online form or by making contact with us, and collection will be arranged. Kerbside collection is also available.”

Full details of the takeaway service will be available soon on the Marlborough District Libraries website at www.marlboroughlibraries.govt.nz