Once 90% of eligible New Zealanders are fully vaccinated and protected, the government will be introducing a new ‘traffic light’ approach to managing COVID-19 in the community.

This approach does not rely on lockdowns to stop the virus spreading - however localised lockdowns may still occur (under Red) if there’s a rapid rise in case numbers in a specific area.

The following information is from the www.covid19.govt.nz website:

Vaccination certificate requirements

Requiring a vaccination certificate will be optional for many locations. There will be some higher-risk settings where they will be a requirement in order to open to the public.

At all levels, businesses, retail, and public facilities will generally be able to remain open for vaccinated people.

Businesses, events, organisations, community, and a range of sectors may legally choose to implement a vaccination entry requirement for customers.

If a business, organisation or service does not wish to request proof of vaccine, they will have to operate with strict limits on capacity and space requirements. They may need to close in Orangeand/or Red levels.

Green

Green is when there are some COVID-19 cases in the community, and sporadic imported cases.

Community transmission will be limited and COVID-19 hospitalisations will be at a manageable level. The health system will be ready to respond, including primary care, public health, and hospitals.

How we stay safe at Green

• Record keeping and scanning will be required.
• Face coverings are mandatory on flights and encouraged indoors.

Where we can go at Green

• Public facilities.
• Retail.
• Workplaces.
• ECEs, schools, kura and tertiary providers.
• Specified outdoor community events.
• Regional boundary restrictions will not apply.

Places with vaccination certificate requirements

There will be no limits if vaccination certificates are used for:

• hospitality
• gatherings, such as at places of worship or marae
• weddings and civil union ceremonies
• funerals and tangihanga
• events (indoor/outdoor)
• close contact businesses (for example, hairdressers)
• gyms.

Places where vaccination certificates are not used

If a business, organisation or service, does not request proof of vaccine, restrictions will apply.

• Hospitality — up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing, seated and separated.
• Gatherings, such as at places of worship or marae — up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.
• Weddings and civil union ceremonies — up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.
• Funerals and tangihanga — up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.
• Events (indoor/outdoor) — up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing, seated and separated.
• Close contact businesses — face coverings for staff, 1 metre distancing between customers.
• Gyms — up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.

Orange

At Orange, there will be increasing community transmission that is putting pressure on our health system.

The whole of health system will focus its resources, but can continue to manage primary care, public health, and hospitals. There may also be an increasing risk for at-risk people.

How we stay safe at Orange

• Record keeping and scanning will be required.
• Face coverings will be mandatory on flights, public transport, in taxis, retail, public venues, and encouraged elsewhere.

Where we can go at Orange

• Public facilities will be open with capacity limits based on 1 metre distancing.
• Retail will be open with capacity limits based on 1 metre distancing.
• Education facilities will be open with public health measures in place.
• Workplaces.
• Specified outdoor community events.
• Regional boundary restrictions will not apply.

Places with vaccination certificate requirements

There will be no limits if vaccination certificates are used at:

• hospitality
• gatherings, such as at places of worship or marae
• weddings and civil union ceremonies
• funerals and tangihanga
• events (indoor/outdoor)
• close contact businesses (for example hairdressers)
• gyms.

Places where vaccination certificates are not used

If a business, organisation or service, does not request proof of vaccine, restrictions will apply.

• Hospitality — contactless only.
• Gatherings, such as at places of worship or marae — up to 50 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.
• Weddings and civil union ceremonies — up to 50 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.
• Funerals and tangihanga — up to 50 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing.

Red

At Red, action will need to be taken to protect both at-risk people and protect our health system from an unsustainable number of hospitalisations.

How we stay safe at Red

• Record keeping and scanning will be required.
• Face coverings will be mandatory on flights, public transport, in taxis, retail, public venues, and recommended whenever leaving the house.

Where we can go at Red

• Public facilities — open with up to 100 people, based on 1 metre distancing.
• Retail — open with capacity limits based on 1 metre distancing.
• Workplaces — working from home encouraged.
• ECEs, schools, and kura are open with public health measures.
• Specified outdoor community events — allowed with capacity limits.
• Regional boundary restrictions may apply.

Places with vaccination certificate requirements

There will be restrictions if vaccination certificates are used.

These places will be able to open with up to 100 people, based on 1 metre physical distancing:

• hospitality
• gatherings, such as at places of worship or marae
• weddings and civil union ceremonies
• funerals and tangihanga
• events (indoor/outdoor)
• gyms.

These places will be able to open with other requirements:

• close contact businesses with public health requirements in place
• tertiary education — vaccines required for onsite delivery, with capacity based on 1 metre distancing.

Places where vaccination certificates are not used

If a business, organisation or service, does not request proof of vaccine, restrictions will apply.

• Hospitality — contactless only.
• Gatherings, such as at places of worship or marae — up to 10 people.
• Weddings and civil union ceremonies — up to 10 people.
• Funerals and tangihanga — up to 10 people.
• Tertiary education — distance learning only.