Kiwi PyCon 2025 is an in-person event being held in a period when COVID-19 is still in the community. We can’t totally eliminate the risk this presents, but below are the measures we’re taking, which you can use to decide if attending Kiwi PyCon 2025 in-person meets your risk tolerance.
Not everyone faces the same risk from COVID-19. There are members of our community who are more likely to contract an infection or more likely to experience severe outcomes from an infection.
We believe that nobody should need to take undue risk to their health to benefit from professional development opportunities.
In light of ongoing health considerations, this year we encourage all attendees to wear masks throughout the conference spaces where distancing cannot be maintained and expect voluntary testing by attendees.
Although our masking standard is relaxed compared to our 2024 event, we expect that all attendees respect those who choose to wear a mask and their boundaries.
We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe. Kiwi PyCon 2025 signed The Public Health Pledge as an event with robust Health & Safety policies.
Applicability of these Policies
These policies apply to all days of the conference, including the tutorials/workshops running on Friday, any social events organised in any official capacity by the conference, as well as the main conference on Saturday and Sunday.
Reading, understanding, and adhering to this policy is a condition of sale of your ticket. We ask all attendees to respect this policy and support one another in maintaining a safe environment. Failure to respect others and their boundaries may result in a Code of Conduct Violation.
Changes to this information
These policies will only be changed if it is to increase protections. The exception to this is if circumstances outside our control require us to loosen protections. If this happens, we’ll let all ticket holders know. If you no longer feel comfortable attending due to such changes, please contact us.
Mask wearing is encouraged but not required
We encourage attendees to wear facial coverings recommended by Health NZ in indoor spaces and any spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
P2/N95 or equivalent mask offers the best protection from exposure to viruses, as well as allergens that are likely to be in high concentration at our venue and cause COVID/flu-like symptoms; however, attendees may use a mask that meets their needs for protection and comfort or choose not to wear a mask at all.
Complimentary masks will be available at the registration desk and throughout the venue for all attendees.
Vaccination is strongly encouraged
We strongly encourage attendees to be up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines, as it is the best way to reduce the impact of COVID-19 should you be infected during your time traveling to and attending the conference.
New Zealand residents can book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines here:
COVID-19 Testing is strongly encouraged
We strongly recommend that attendees perform a rapid antigen test (RAT) before attending the event, especially if you are aware you have recently been exposed to COVID-19, or if you have recently been unmasked in a group setting.
Ventilation and Air Quality
Separate air conditioning units are installed in each room, as well as the atrium/foyer. Air filters are G4, not HEPA.
The system will be running at 100% fresh air throughout the day, which will lead to at least 6 air changes per hour.
As this event is running in November, there are possibilities of opening parts of the venue to the outside allowing fresh air to flow through, though this will be weather dependent.
Air Quality Monitoring
Monkeytronic C02 monitors will be placed around the venue and visible to attendees, organisers and volunteers and will be centrally monitored.
We hope that these air quality indicators provide some assurance of adequate ventilation and help attendees make informed decisions about the level of risk they are exposed to.
If a monitor is showing a high reading (greater than 1000ppm CO2), please let a volunteer or organiser know.
Information about the Monkeytronics air monitors is available on their website.
Hygiene
Hand sanitiser stations are available throughout the atrium of Shed 6, and we have hand sanitiser dispenser bottles in all rooms and bathrooms for you.
If you need a fresh mask, we have them at the registration desk in the atrium.
We Will Refund You if You Are Unwell
You must not attend Kiwi PyCon if:
You have tested positive for COVID-19
You are experiencing known COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms in ways that are unusual to you.
Your presence would otherwise create a risk of exposure to communicable diseases to your fellow attendees.
If you become unwell before or during the conference, please let the conference organisers know as soon as possible.
We will provide a refund of your ticket at a rate prorated to the number of full days you were not able to attend.
Kiwi PyCon does not have any hybrid, remote attendance or live streaming facilities this year, but you will be able to catch all of the talks on our YouTube channel after the conference and participate in our community Slack.
Significant parts of this policy are borrowed from our PyCon AU friends (https://2023.pycon.org.au/safety/covid/).