NAIDOC Week events in the Hunter are being postponed as the region watches Sydney's COVID-19 cases rise.
Awabakal Newcastle NAIDOC committee chairperson Rod Smith said in a video posted to Facebook on Monday that the committee had decided to postpone its July 5 NAIDOC Week march and community event at Civic Park, due to the "current COVID situation and the new restrictions in place".
"Not cancel, but postpone until September school holidays later this year where we can all come together as mob and community and celebrate," Mr Smith said.
"This decision was not taken lightly, our primary concern is always the health and wellbeing of our community, clients and staff to ensure we are doing our best to minimise risks."
He said the committee would use social media to host "fun and entertainment" during NAIDOC Week.
Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council said it would cancel its July 6 Celebration of Existence March in Maitland and other events.
"At this time the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities' health and wellbeing is much more important to us all," it said on its Facebook page.
It said in another post that it had "worked through these unstable and unknowing times safely with you all before, and we are ready to do it again".
A Lake Macquarie City Council spokesman said the council was considering postponing its July 7 flag raising ceremony and was expected to finalise its decision on Tuesday.
The spokesman said the community led family fun days held at Pelican and Toronto foreshores would not take place this year. A Port Stephens Council spokeswoman said Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council had decided to postpone its NAIDOC Week activities.
She said the council would also postpone its July 5 flag raising to coincide with Worimi LALC's activities. It will still host the July 8 screening of documentary Grave Injustice and launch a series of Dreaming videos told by Uncle Graeme Russell to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
An art workshop on July 7 at Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council Community Hall will most likely go ahead.
A Cessnock City Council spokeswoman said the council had organised a series of community events in collaboration with Barkuma Neighbourhood Centre; Kiray Putjung Aboriginal Corporation and Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council and would know more on Tuesday about which events it would be able to stage in a COVID-safe way and which ones it would have to cancel or postpone.
A Dungog Shire Council spokeswoman said the council had organised a day of "come and try" activities on July 8 and it - as well as all the council's events for next week - had been postponed to a later date.
An Upper Hunter Shire Council spokesperson said the council was "deliberating" whether to hold its events. Comment was sought from Muswellbrook and Singleton councils.
NAIDOC Week events were planned for July 4 to 11 to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The theme this year is Heal Country.
