After a suspension due to Covid-19 restrictions the Wānaka parkrun will be back on its feet tomorrow (Saturday January 15).

The weekly five kilometre walk/run event has been given the all clear to resume operations and a large contingent is expected at the 8am start on Saturday.

Wānaka parkrun coordinator Glenys Martin said she was pleased to have the event back up and running, albeit with some mandated requirements for checking vaccine passes.  

“We are operating under the government’s Covid orange traffic light settings and therefore require everyone aged 12 years and three months or over to show a My Vaccine Pass (MVP) to participate,” Glenys said.

Parkrun Asia Pacific territory manager Renee Gimbert said she understands there are differing views with regard to the MVP requirement for an outdoor physical activity such as parkrun.

“The board of trustees of the global parkrun charity have therefore discussed this topic at length, both from a broader perspective and specific to New Zealand, and our position at this time is that the right thing to do for the health and happiness of the communities we support is to reopen our events,” Renee said.

Runners must be registered to participate in parkrun. 

Once registered, participants can print a barcode which is scanned at the event to identify the runner for the results list.

The Wānaka parkrun will be held tomorrow (Saturday January 15) and each Saturday following at Wānaka Station Park. The five kilometre run starts at 8am.

PHOTO: Supplied