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Tuesday 05 March 2024
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Covid-19

Govt moots expanding Covid inquiry to include economic impacts 7th February 2024 /

Govt moots expanding Covid inquiry to include economic impacts

The government is seeking feedback on additional focus areas within the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 Lessons.


Govt grants extension for Covid-19 response enquiry report 7th September 2023 /

Govt grants extension for Covid-19 response enquiry report

The government has extended the deadline for the Royal Commission of Enquiry’s final report into the Covid-19 response.


“Every little bit helps” – industry relieved at scrapping of Covid restrictions 15th August 2023 /

“Every little bit helps” – industry relieved at scrapping of Covid restrictions

The 7-day isolation requirement for positive cases will be scrapped overnight, ending the last area of Covid friction for tourism.


MBIE responds to Ombudsman’s MIQ report 13th December 2022 /

MBIE responds to Ombudsman’s MIQ report

The urgent need for the MIQ system meant consultation processes were limited, says MBIE.


PM: Border, quarantine response to be scrutinised in Covid inquiry 6th December 2022 /

PM: Border, quarantine response to be scrutinised in Covid inquiry

The Royal Commission will start considering evidence in February and conclude in mid-2024, with a report to follow.


NZ Traveller Declaration to end on Thurs – govt 18th October 2022 /

NZ Traveller Declaration to end on Thurs – govt

The government is ending the requirement for visitors travelling by air to fill out the online New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) from this Thursday 20 October.


Metlink removes mask requirements on public transport 14th September 2022 /

Metlink removes mask requirements on public transport

Masks are no longer required on Metlink’s bus, rail, ferry, and total mobility services, but remain strongly recommended on public transport.


“Momentous day” for tourism as Covid rules finally fall 13th September 2022 /

“Momentous day” for tourism as Covid rules finally fall

Operators can now make their own health and safety decisions for staff and customers.


Traffic light system, visitor vaccination scrapped 13th September 2022

Traffic light system, visitor vaccination scrapped

The govt no longer requires proof of vaccination for visitors coming to NZ but travellers should check with their airline’s requirements.


ACT urges scrapping of visitor vax requirements 5th September 2022 /

ACT urges scrapping of visitor vax requirements

ACT Party leader David Seymour is calling for the government to remove all vaccination requirements because he believes they are preventing visitors from returning to New Zealand.


Isolation rules causing “business long Covid” – Barnett 27th July 2022

Isolation rules causing “business long Covid” – Barnett

Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett is calling for the removal of self-isolation rules for household contacts because he believes it is causing “business long Covid” during the winter.


Govt rolls out new Covid measures, keeps NZ at orange 14th July 2022

Govt rolls out new Covid measures, keeps NZ at orange

The government is making rapid antigen tests and masks freely available to anyone who needs them as part of several changes to tackle the second Covid-19 Omicron wave and influenza.


Air NZ offers flight credit to illness-impacted travellers 11th July 2022 /

Air NZ offers flight credit to illness-impacted travellers

Air New Zealand is offering flight credit to domestic and international travellers affected by illness or as a result of flight cancellations due to staff illness.


Staff illness, shortages hit Auckland rail bus services 8th July 2022 /

Staff illness, shortages hit Auckland rail bus services

Auckland Transport is reducing the number of rail bus services as driver shortages and illness force the operator to reduce timetables.


Niue Covid cases linked to NZ flight 6th July 2022

Niue Covid cases linked to NZ flight

New Covid-19 cases in Niue have been linked to a flight from New Zealand.


NZ stays at orange as Covid cases “creep up” 30th June 2022

NZ stays at orange as Covid cases “creep up”

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Vaccination mandate for border workers to end 29th June 2022 /

Vaccination mandate for border workers to end

The government’s mandatory vaccination requirement for all border workers and corrections staff will end on 2 July.


Pre-departure Covid testing requirement removed 21st June 2022 /

Pre-departure Covid testing requirement removed

Visitors heading to New Zealand can now skip the hassle of having a pre-departure Covid-19 test.


Border worker Covid testing to end 20th June 2022 /

Border worker Covid testing to end

Border workers will no longer need to be tested for Covid-19 from 11:59pm on Thursday 30 June.


Industry hails scrapping of Covid pre-departure tests 16th June 2022 /

Industry hails scrapping of Covid pre-departure tests

The removal of the requirement at midnight Monday arrives in time for the start of the southern ski season.


NZ lags behind as US ditches pre-departure testing 13th June 2022 /

NZ lags behind as US ditches pre-departure testing

The US is no longer requiring visitors travelling by air to undertake pre-departure testing for Covid-19, leaving NZ somewhat lagging behind as a country largely open for tourism with the restriction in place.


What we’ve learnt from the pandemic – West Coast operators 3rd June 2022 /

What we’ve learnt from the pandemic – West Coast operators

Sustainability, collaboration, and new approaches to attracting domestic visitors have come to the fore in one of the hardest hit tourism regions.


Orange setting no barrier to recovery – business chamber 25th May 2022 /

Orange setting no barrier to recovery – business chamber

The Covid orange traffic light setting is not a constraint or handbrake to accelerating business recovery and growth, says Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett.


2021 wage subsidies supported 183k jobs in accom, food 10th May 2022 /

2021 wage subsidies supported 183k jobs in accom, food

Accommodation and food services had the highest proportion of jobs supported by wage subsidies in 2021, says a new report.


…now get rid of pre-departure tests – industry 2nd May 2022 /

…now get rid of pre-departure tests – industry

Industry groups are calling on the government to scrap the requirement for travellers to take a pre-departure test before flying to New Zealand.


Air NZ to trial new Covid tests 2nd May 2022 /

Air NZ to trial new Covid tests

Air New Zealand and the government will trial a new Covid-19 testing solution, coinciding the the arrival of more visitors back into New Zealand.


Perspectives: How flyers can avoid catching Covid on the plane 28th April 2022 /

Perspectives: How flyers can avoid catching Covid on the plane

Why are business travellers more at risk?


Queenstown Airport passenger numbers drop 23% 28th April 2022 /

Queenstown Airport passenger numbers drop 23%

A lack of travel confidence among domestic travellers contributed to a 23% drop to 72,895 in passengers flowing through Queenstown Airport in March 2022, compared to the same time last year.


New mask exemption card will help businesses – govt 27th April 2022

New mask exemption card will help businesses – govt

The government will provide people who have a genuine reason for not being able to wear a face mask with a new personalised exemption card from the end of May.


Air NZ ditches domestic passenger vax mandates 14th April 2022 /

Air NZ ditches domestic passenger vax mandates

And from 1 May, it will also remove its ‘no jab, no fly’ vaccination policy for international customers.


NZ moves to Covid orange at midnight 13th April 2022 /

NZ moves to Covid orange at midnight

Bars, cafes, and restaurants will be able to fill up again with capacity and seating rules lifted, says Chris Hipkins.


Covid lockdowns push emissions down – report 13th April 2022 /

Covid lockdowns push emissions down – report

New Zealanders unable to travel throughout the country during 2020’s Covid-19 lockdowns saw a reduction in emissions, according to Greenhouse Gas Inventory report from the Ministry for the Environment.


Vertical integration could reduce tourism shock in crises – study 12th April 2022 /

Vertical integration could reduce tourism shock in crises – study

Vertically integrating tourism with other industries can help reduce its vulnerability in future crises, according to new research.


Auckland Airport urges travellers to plan for Covid testing 11th April 2022 /

Auckland Airport urges travellers to plan for Covid testing

Auckland Airport is urging travellers to plan ahead for Easter and school holidays by making sure they understand any entry requirements for their international destination well ahead of their departure date, and prioritise certified pre-departure testing through community pharmacies and healthcare providers.


Business chamber calls for switch to orange on Monday 8th April 2022 /

Business chamber calls for switch to orange on Monday

Auckland Business Chamber is calling out the government on its announcement regarding the change to the orange traffic light setting this week.


Hospitality sees red over continued Covid restrictions 5th April 2022 /

Hospitality sees red over continued Covid restrictions

Hospitality businesses continue to struggle at the hands of the government’s decision to keep the country in the red setting, say industry players.


PM: No change to Covid red setting, next review before Easter 5th April 2022

PM: No change to Covid red setting, next review before Easter

It means capacity limits for indoor gatherings, events and hospitality venues remain capped at 200 people.


DOC lifts vax requirements for accommodation 5th April 2022 /

DOC lifts vax requirements for accommodation

The Department of Conservation is suspending its requirement for people to be fully vaccinated to use its accommodation, in line with updated public health guidance.


Vaccine passes out, red setting review decision today 4th April 2022

Vaccine passes out, red setting review decision today

Today marks the last day for vaccination pass requirements, with Cabinet set to review the country’s traffic light settings.


Govt launches targeted rural service for RAT tests 31st March 2022 /

Govt launches targeted rural service for RAT tests

The Government has launched a new targeted rural service for rapid antigen tests for those who live in remote rural areas as it looks to make testing more widely available.


Waitomo council to remove vaccine pass mandate 30th March 2022 /

Waitomo council to remove vaccine pass mandate

Covid-19 vaccine passes will no longer be a requirement of entry at any Waitomo District Council owned and managed facility come 4 April.


Northland urges govt to extend $49m Kick-start Fund 29th March 2022 /

Northland urges govt to extend $49m Kick-start Fund

Taitokerau Northland leaders are calling on Tourism Minister Stuart Nash to extend the $49m Tourism Kick-start Fund to support hard-hit tourism and hospitality in the region.


Businesses keen to remove vax passes, QR scanning – survey 29th March 2022

Businesses keen to remove vax passes, QR scanning – survey

Wellington and central New Zealand businesses plan to remove QR code tracer and vaccine pass requirements from 5 April, but changes to the Covid Protection Framework will have little impact, shows a survey.


Govt winds down MIQ booking system 25th March 2022 /

Govt winds down MIQ booking system

The government is scaling back its managed isolation and quarantine voucher booking system as decommissions its MIQ operations.


Is tourism ready to drop Covid mandates? It depends, say operators 24th March 2022

Is tourism ready to drop Covid mandates? It depends, say operators

Some operators are ready to relax rules, while others are still deciding, with Air NZ saying it is not announcing any change yet.


Local councils move to lift Covid restrictions 24th March 2022

Local councils move to lift Covid restrictions

Councils across the country are making changes to their Covid-19 rules following the government’s easing of restrictions.


PM: Vaccine passes, QR scanning, outdoor capacity limits to go 23rd March 2022

PM: Vaccine passes, QR scanning, outdoor capacity limits to go

Vaccine mandates will also be scrapped for most workplaces, says Jacinda Ardern.


Govt to unveil Covid setting changes on Wednesday 22nd March 2022

Govt to unveil Covid setting changes on Wednesday

to announce changes to New Zealand’s Covid settings, including vaccine passes, mandates, and the Covid Protection Framework, on Wednesday.


Vax pass requirement relaxed for some Taupō attractions 15th March 2022

Vax pass requirement relaxed for some Taupō attractions

The vaccine pass will still be required at some facilities, including the Taupō Events Centre.


Queenstown Airport, SDHB set up drive-through vax clinic 10th March 2022 /

Queenstown Airport, SDHB set up drive-through vax clinic

Queenstown Airport and the Southern District Health Board are setting up a pop-up, drive-through vaccine clinic, primarily for the 1500 people affected by a botched vaccine storage error last December and January.