The next day, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern moved Auckland to Alert Level 3 and the rest of the country, including Dunedin, to Alert Level 2. In Level 2, gatherings could have up to 100 people, and consequently the mural opening was cancelled. On Friday, The Star met the two mural artists at the site of the cancelled event. Another Dunedin event to be cancelled was Special Rigs for Special Kids on August 23. Organiser Greg Inch said it was with a "heavy heart" he cancelled the event for the first time in its 29-year history.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 19, 2020 22:52 UTC