Nowhere is immune to the social and economic side-effects of the ongoing pandemic, even the sparsely populated Maniototo.

Members of the Maniototo Community Board yesterday reflected on the pandemic’s current diverse and far-reaching effects on it’s community, despite the disease itself still not being present.

From a “hissy-fit” by an unvaccinated resident being refused entry to the library, to supply chain issues and the second, and even more tiresome, round of cancellations of much-anticipated community events, the effects were infiltrating many aspects of people’s lives.

Supply of goods was anticipated as a worsening issue across industries – from vehicle oil filters to decorating and medical supplies.

Tourism had taken a hit with rail trail visitor numbers dropping 40% to 50% over the past month although there was still a reasonable amount of people still riding.

Board member and district councillor Stu Duncan said he was aware people were “a bit angry” as stress levels rose and situations had to be dealt with.

The potential temporary loss of staff through having to isolate as contacts of Covid-19 cases was a big worry, on top of general staff shortages across a host of industries.

The Ranfurly pool had lost a much-needed staff member due to them being unvaccinated and many group activities were being impacted - volunteer fire crews could no longer meet inside the fire station building as it was now a ‘closed venue’.

He said a lot of people seemed to be angry about a lot of things at present from building consent issues to pools and roads.

He felt, in particular, that council staff had been subject to criticism.

“Everyone is trying very hard in testing times at the moment to do their job correctly and it’s very hard.

"A lot of it has been aimed at staff which is a bit tough."

He said people were "angry".

"For a lot of people it is financial pressure and the unknown of Covid.

“We lost the A&P shows, communities have lost a lot of those things.

"People are missing out and it’s been tough especially on the elderly.

"We’ve just got to fumble though and that’s our job, we’re going to support the community,” he said.

On a positive note, farm returns were healthy.

"The industry was spending money and businesses attached to agriculture were going to be carried through the downturn by that.

Board chairman Robert Hazlett said people needed to just keep doing what they been doing, in terms of Covid-19 precautions.

“You might not like some of the rules that are out there, or the situation we’re in but the rules have proven to be effective.”