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COVID-19 Information

This page brings together information relating to COVID-19, how it may affect your business. Stay up to date as new information becomes available.

COVID-19

Northland: Alert Level 3

Auckland: Alert Level 3 with some restrictions eased

Waikato: Parts of Waikato are at Alert Level 3

Rest of New Zealand: Level 2

(Last updated 11/10/2021)

Where Can I Find Up-to-Date and Accurate COVID-19 Information for Businesses?

https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/ is the government’s central resource for COVID-19 business information with updates about COVID-19 and guidance to help businesses where you will find information about:

Operating at Alert Levels
Business travel across regional boundaries
Contact tracing
Employment and work visas
Leases and tenancies
Exporters and importers
Working from home
Financial support for businesses

If you have a question about alert level settings for businesses, and you cannot find the information above, please email AL4BusinessServices@mbie.govt.nz

What guidance is there for businesses operating at different alert levels?

Please access the link here: https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/operating-at-alert-levels/

This page will include:

Rules for business at Alert Level 2
COVID-19: Face coverings requirements for workers and customers
Rules for business at Alert Level 4
Guidelines for operating at different alert levels
Further guidance on Alert Level 4 rules
Rules for business at Alert Level 3
Rules for business at all Alert Levels

What Financial Support Is Available?

An overview of the financial support available at different alert levels is below. Note: all of the following Covid-19 support initiatives have eligibility requirements that must be met.

When and How Can I Apply for Financial Assistance?

Wage Subsidy Scheme –
The Wage Subsidy is a payment to support eligible businesses, organisations and the self-employed affected by Alert Levels 3 and 4, so they can continue to pay employees and protect jobs.

You can apply for the Wage Subsidy regardless of where your business is located in New Zealand. However, your business must have been affected by the continuation of Alert Level 3 or 4.

The Wage Subsidy is paid in two-week periods. Since the alert level change on 17 August 2021, four rounds of the scheme have been announced: Wage Subsidy August 2021, Wage Subsidy August 2021 #2, Wage Subsidy August 2021 #3 and Wage Subsidy August 2021 #4.

Wage Subsidy August 2021: Applications for the first round, Wage Subsidy August 2021, have now closed.

Wage Subsidy August 2021 #2: Applications for the second round, Wage Subsidy August 2021 #2, have now closed.

Wage Subsidy August 2021 #3: Applications for the third round, Wage Subsidy August 2021 #3, have now closed.

Wage Subsidy August 2021 #4: Applications for the fourth round, Wage Subsidy August 2021 #4, are open for two weeks between 9am, 1 October and 11.59pm - 14 October 2021.
Resurgence Support Payment – The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) is a payment to help support viable and ongoing businesses or organisations due to a COVID-19 alert level increase to Level 2 or higher. If your business or organisation is facing a reduction in revenue due to an alert level increase, you may be eligible for the RSP.
Applications for the first two rounds of the RSP are open. Applications for a third round opened on October 8. Businesses and organisations can apply for each round of the RSP if they are eligible. Applications for each round of the RSP will remain open for one month after a nationwide return to Alert Level 1. Businesses and organisations will be eligible if they experience a 30% drop in revenue over a seven day period after an alert level increase and meet other eligibility criteria. For the first payment the seven-day period must start on or after 17 August. For the second payment the seven-day period must start on or after 8 September. For the third payment the seven-day period must start on or after 1 October. This drop is compared to a typical seven-day period in the six weeks before the increase in alert level. Seasonal businesses should show a 30% revenue drop compared with a typical week in a prior year.
The decline in revenue must be a result of the specific alert level change, not just COVID-19 in general. You must have been in business for at least one month prior to the alert level change on 17 August 2021 to be eligible to apply. Charities, not-for-profit organisations, the self-employed and pre-revenue businesses, such as start-ups may also be eligible. This payment is not a loan, so does not need to be repaid. The payment must be used to help cover business expenses such as wages and fixed costs. There have been some recent changes to the eligibility criteria for commonly owned groups. A commonly owned group generally consists of businesses that have the same owners. Some individual businesses or organisations within a commonly owned group may now be eligible for RSP. You can find examples of commonly owned groups and more eligibility criteria for the RSP on the Inland Revenue website. You can also calculate how much you may be entitled to and how to apply on Inland Revenue's website. Eligibility for the Resurgence Support Payment(external link) – Inland Revenue Apply for the Resurgence Support Payment(external link) – Inland Revenue If you don’t meet the criteria for RSP but do have cash flow problems, Inland Revenue can help. Visit their Manage my tax page for more information.
Short-Term Absence Payment – increases from 24 August with no stated close date
Leave Support Scheme – applications open with no stated close date
Small business cash flow loan scheme – applications are open and close 31 December 2023
Tax and ACC support – N/A
Business debt hibernation – applications are open and close 31 October 2021.
Financial support tool – calculate what support you can get online.

	Alert Level 1	Alert Level 2	Alert Level 3	Alert Level 4
Wage Subsidy Scheme			yes	yes
Resurgence Support Payment		yes	yes	yes
Leave Support Scheme	yes	yes	yes	yes
Short-Term Absence Payments	yes	yes	yes	yes
Small Business Cashflow (Loan Scheme)	yes	yes	yes	yes
Business Debt Hibernation	yes	yes	yes	yes

To learn more about each type of support and where you can find more information, go to the https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/financial-support-for-businesses/ site.

How can we support the wellbeing of our rangatahi, whanau, friends and colleagues?

Additional funding was announced to further support our young Kiwis in the Youth Mental Wellbeing Fund. Lockdowns are particularly challenging times for young people, so this fund will provide grants of up to $100,000 to organisations and programmes supporting young New Zealanders through COVID.

Help is there for everyone, at any time, no matter where you live or what age you are.

- Call or text 1737, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak with a trained counsellor for free

- Young people can also contact Youthline by calling 0800 376 633 or text 234 for free

- Call 0800 559 009 for food support via MSD

- Our Pacific community can receive mental health support on 0800 652 535

- Check out the free mental health and wellbeing resources online at https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and.../mental-wellbeing/

For COVID-19 Health Related Information

For all health-related information refer to the Ministry of Health website https://www.health.govt.nz/ and covid19.govt.nz for the latest updates, information and advice on COVID-19 including:

COVID-19 contact tracing locations of interest
Mental wellbeing support
Vaccines – what you need to know

Free helpline for businesses, offering advice and access to Government business support, HR and general business advice and access to online resources and webinars. Call 0800 500 362 for North Island, or 0800 50 50 96 for South Island.

The GETBA team are here to help. If you have any questions, need help in getting more information or want to talk to us call us on 09 273 6274 or email operations@getba.org.nz