Several events set up for screenings of the National Remembrance Service for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack are being cancelled due to stretched police resources.
Earlier today it was announced that events in Southland, Waikato and the Far North had been cancelled following advice from police.
In a statement this afternoon Queenstown Lakes District Council communications advisor Campbell Weal confirmed planned public live streams in Queenstown and Wanaka had also been cancelled.
"The council had scheduled to enable the community to come together in two locations across the district but has since decided that the heightened security required for these events would be challenging, not only for the local community and our visitors, but for the council and our local police,'' he said.
The live streaming was available on TVNZ and Radio New Zealand, which made the decision "somewhat easier to bear''.
"We encourage our community to join with family, friends and colleagues to tune into the service in their place of work, at home or wherever they find themselves at 10am tomorrow.
"We apologise if anyone is disappointed by this decision but ultimately we agree that public safety is our collective priority.''
Earlier, Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks said he "regretfully" had to cancel an event at the St James Theatre "on the advice of police".
"We have been working with Police on this event, however, today we have been advised that nationally, rural areas are being asked to consider cancelling any public events relating to the National Remembrance Service."
The reason for the request was that police resources throughout the country have been and continue to be stretched, Hicks said.
The cancellation comes after Waikato District Council announced yesterday that it also had to cancel an event at Turangawaewae Marae to watch the service.
"It is with regret that we have called off the event we were planning to hold on Friday," Mayor Allan Sanson said.
"We have taken advice from police and the bottom line is that the security efforts required from many parties to hold an event like this at this time are too high."
The live broadcast of the National Remembrance Service being held in Hagley Park in Christchurch will start at 10am.
Sanson encouraged people to gather in their homes and workplaces to watch it.
The service is jointly led by the Government, the City of Christchurch, Ngāi Tahu and the Muslim community.
Despite rural events being cancelled, large viewings will take place in Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton.
A livestream of the National Remembrance Service will be held at Waitangi Park, on Wellington's waterfront from 9.30am.
The service will be opened by the Wellington Orchestra with the Pacifica Choir. There will be a prayer and Mayor Justin Lester will speak before the broadcast starts.
Eden Park will host Auckland's Remembrance for Christchurch service on Friday afternoon. In conjunction with the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, Together - Auckland's Remembrance for Christchurch will kick off at 2.15pm.
Dunedin will show live coverage on big screens at the Dunedin Town Hall between 10am and 11am. The main entrance of the Dunedin Town Hall will open to the public at 8.30am.
The Dunedin event will include speeches from Minister of Health Dr David Clark, Otago Muslim Association Chairman Mohammed Rizwan, Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull, Otago Regional Council Chairman Stephen Woodhead and Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.
- additional reporting Daisy Hudson
