The advent of the corona virus has thrown the industry’s event planners a curve ball and virtually all the proposed events and trade shows scheduled for the next six months have either suffered cancellation or moved into a holding pattern.
Tomorrow’s Print Industry Training Graduation in Auckalnd and next week’s event in Christchurch will not take place. Ruth Cobbb, general manager PrintNZ, says, “As an industry organisation, we have to show leadership, so it was with much regret that we made the decision on Monday to cancel our Industry Training Graduations due to be held this week and next in Auckland and Christchurch.
“While the gatherings would be well below the 500 person threshhold, with the rate that things are evolving, we did not believe it would be responsible for us hold these events and put our industry and your communities at risk. We are of course disappointed for our graduates as this is a celebration of them, but their health and wellbeing is the most important thing. For our Apprentice of the Year hopefuls, the pathway through to Apprentice of the Year winners will continue and our Top 5 apprentices will be revealed early next week, but with those announcements being made on a more personal level.
“Rest assured that we will continue progressing through to naming our overall Apprentice of the Year, Trainer of the Year and Training Company of the Year, continuing to work in conjunction with the Pride In Print Awards to do so.”
On Friday, Total Supply and Spicers had their Charity Golf Day planned but this will now take place at a later date. Organisers will work with the sponsors and golf administrators to find another date for the event.
The Community Newspapers Association Conference had scheduled May 1-2 but have deferred the event to later this year. Once again, orgainsers will work with venues and other organisations to confirm dates.
The New Zealand Sign and Display Association would have held its annula conference and the NZ Sign Expo in Auckland in June but has also had to postpone the events.
