Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron is taking a tough stance on Covid-19 tracing for visitors to this weekend's Ohakune Mardi Gras.
Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron. Photo: RNZ Insight/Laura Dooney
He said more than 5000 people from around the country were expected to converge on Ohakune for the event - and security guards would be ensuring they use QR codes and sign in sheets for Covid-19 tracing.
"We had one incident where someone tested positive who came off the mountain in the ski season a few months ago and that really scared the whole community.
"They made it really clear, particularly the iwi, made it very clear that was not going to happen again," Cameron said.
All businesses in Ohakune had Covid tracer codes on their windows and most people were using them, he said.
"The businesses themselves are well aware of keeping our area safe and I'm sure they're quite determined to make sure that is carried out.
"Sure, we are going to have probably hundreds of people trying to get through a doorway, but there will be security guards to make sure people are doing the right thing," Cameron said.