Auckland, Mar 23 – On Monday, the Government raised New Zealand’s coronavirus threat alert level to 3, and gave notice that it will rise again to the maximum level 4 in 48 hours.
ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES
At alert level 3, businesses considered non-essential must close (see list below). Essential businesses, and those that support them, will continue to operate.
Essential businesses include:
- Accommodation services for essential workers and people who need to be isolated/quarantined
Border – - Customs New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries
Building and construction – - Building and construction related to essential services, critical infrastructure, or immediately needed to maintain human health and safety at home/work
Courts, tribunals and the justice system: - Courts of New Zealand and tribunals
- Critical Crown entities (eg Electoral Commission),
Education at Level 3 only: - Schools and educational facilities (e.g. ECE centres)
Fast-moving consumer goods: - Businesses involved in the supply, delivery, distribution and sale of food, beverage and other key consumer goods (but not takeaway shops)
Financial services : - Banks, insurers and other financial institutions
Health: - Hospitals, primary care clinics, pharmacies, medical laboratories, care facilities
- Ambulance services
- Mortuary services
- Blood donor centres
Local and national government: - Any entity involved in Covid-19 response or that has civil defence/emergency management functions
Key public services: - Primary industries, including food and beverage production and processing
- Packaging, production and processing of food and beverage products
- Food safety and verification, inspection or associated laboratory services, food safety and biosecurity functions
- Veterinary and animal health/welfare services
Public safety and national security: - Emergency services
- Security and intelligence services
- Justice system
*Public safety and national security roles
Science: - Any entity (including research organisations) involved in Covid-19 response, hazard monitoring, resilience, diagnostics for essential services
Social services: - Welfare and social services, including NGOs, which meet immediate needs (further guidance will be provided)
Transport and logistics: - Transport services
- New Zealand Post and courier services
- Any small passenger service vehicle driver – including taxis and ride-share services
- Utilities and communications, including supply chains
- Electricity, gas, water, waste, fuel, telecommunication services, internet providers and media
Entities providing essential services (including their supply chains)
NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES
At alert level 3, non-essential businesses in New Zealand must close. According to the Government’s Covid-19 website, this includes all bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms, cinemas, pools, museums, libraries and playgrounds.
Any other place where the public congregates that is deemed non-essential must close its face-to-face operation. All indoor and outdoor events are cancelled.
Additionally, over the next 48 hours as the country moves to level 4 at 11:59pm on Wednesday, takeaway services must close their operations.
