Churches delay pass showing

Timaru churches are adapting to the new traffic light system, with some holding off asking parishioners for vaccine passes until the busier festive season.

Up to 50 people can gather at a place of worship without being asked to present a vaccine pass, with scanning required.

Rev Ben Randall, vicar at St Mary’s Anglican Church in Timaru, said the church would comply with government regulations.

Vaccine passes would not be required for church services this weekend with a maximum of 50 worshippers, Randall said.

‘‘Slowly over the next few weeks, passes will be brought in for some of our services. We have several large Christmas services, and we will look at which will have vaccine passes,’’ Randall said.

Rev Brent Richardson of the Timaru Presbyterian Church said it was a tricky time.

‘‘We’ve decided to go with vaccine passports on December 19 to give us time to train people at the door. For most of our regulars it won’t be an issue, but it will be for one or two.’’

Richardson said it had been a difficult decision.

‘‘Some churches I know are trying to accommodate both [vaccinated and unvaccinated]. Everyone’s trying to figure it out.’’

The numbers of worshippers at tomorrow’s services would be under the 50 limit allowed, he said.

Timaru’s Holy Family Catholic Parish stated in its weekly bulletin that vaccine passes would be required for its Saturday 6pm vigil mass and Sunday 9am and 10.30am masses.

A 6pm Saturday mass at Pleasant Point and 5pm Sunday mass in Timaru would be open to vaccinated and unvaccinated for a maximum of 50 people.

Timaru District Council communications manager Stephen Doran said the vaccine pass requirement to enter council buildings had proceeded well yesterday.

‘‘We’ve not had any significant reported problems from customer services or our facilities, the majority of people have vaccine passes or are aware of the arrangements at each site.’’

Staff members were outside the main office vetting people before they accessed the building.