SkyCity Entertainment Group says it has fully reopened its casinos in Hamilton and Queenstown after the New Zealand government announced that the majority of the country, other than Auckland, would revert back to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 from Tuesday.
Under Alert Level 1 there are no physical distancing restrictions on mass gatherings in place, meaning both properties will now remove the special “zoning” measures previously implemented on their gaming floors. Members of the general public will also be allowed back in and events allowed to recommence.
Flagship property SkyCity Auckland remains under Alert Level 2 conditions with entry restricted to rewards members.
The Auckland casino was closed for a second time in 2020 on 12 August as New Zealand’s most populous city experienced an unexpected second wave of COVID-19, before reopening under restrictions earlier this month. It had previously closed for two months in March when the pandemic first hit, reopening in mid-May.
New Zealand reported just three new cases of COVID-19 over the past weekend, with 62 active cases nationwide.