Last update: November 10th, 2021.
New Zealand has fought quite a successful battle against COVID-19 with strict border closures, swift lockdowns, and a crackdown on social distancing measures.
The next step in the fight against COVID involves a New Zealand COVID passport and traffic light system.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has introduced the traffic light system which makes it possible for businesses to choose if they require the New Zealand COVID pass or not.
There are still various New Zealand COVID-19 entry requirements for both citizens and non-citizens that need to be carefully navigated to gain entry.
COVID certificate regulations in New Zealand
The traffic light system in New Zealand is making it possible for businesses to operate whether they require vaccine passports or not.
“If you are a business that chooses to use vaccination certificates, you can operate at every level. If not, there will likely be some restrictions at some levels,” announced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The traffic light system will replace the current alert level system once the country has reached a 90% vaccination rate. This way, lockdowns can be avoided completely and schools should remain open.
There are a few possible scenarios, however. Ardern has announced that the system will only be in place once every district health board (DHB) reaches the 90% target, implying that one DHB lagging could put the whole system in jeopardy.
Ideally, Auckland could transition to the new system once all of its DHBs reach a 90% vaccination rate and remain sequestered from the rest of the country. There is also a proposal for the South Island to transition once it reaches its targets.
Air New Zealand will also make COVID certificates or negative test results mandatory for domestic travel from mid-December until the end of March.
Green alert level in NZ
When the alert level is at green, hospitality businesses are allowed to operate at full capacity if they require proof of vaccination.
If they allow unvaccinated patrons, they can only allow 100 people if they are seated and separated with the correct social distancing measures in place. Gathering limitations are similar to Level 2 of the previous lockdown restrictions.
Orange alert level in NZ
Orange is for when the healthcare system is still able to manage but there is community transmission detected.
Masks will be required for using public transport and entering retail spaces but venues requiring New Zealand’s COVID pass can operate as normal including gyms and gatherings like weddings.
When alert level orange is introduced, businesses like gyms and salons cannot operate if they do not mandate COVID passport New Zealand. Contactless pickup will also be mandatory at hospitality venues and a limit of 50 people at gatherings will apply.
Red alert level in NZ
The Red Light phase will be implemented when the healthcare system is under strain and could most likely be where Auckland will start.
Hospitality venues that do not require a vaccine certificate can only operate with contactless pickup and gyms and hairdressers must remain closed. Places, where people gather like churches and weddings, must be limited to 10 people.
For vaccinated people, hospitality will remain open and limited to 100 people with a spacing of 1m apart. Businesses with close contact like salons can operate with health protocols in place.
Work from home will be encouraged but not mandated and retail establishments can operate with a cap on numbers.
New Zealand’s COVID travel pass
New Zealand authorities have confirmed that two COVID passports are on the horizon. One will be used for local access and the other for international travel.
‘My Vaccine Pass’ is the local record of vaccination, allowing residents restriction-free movement across the country.
These passes can be downloaded through the MyCovidRecord app and are in the form of a digital QR code.
The passes that will be used for international travel are still to be announced and the app will also soon feature capabilities to display negative test results.
Who can travel to New Zealand?
Only citizens and immediate family may travel to New Zealand from high-risk areas. Other travel is strictly regulated and limited to essential travel only.
In these cases, travelers need to apply for permission to travel with Immigration New Zealand, and it will only be granted in exceptional cases.
New Zealand currently has quarantine free travel corridors set up with these countries and territories:
- Australia
- Cook Islands
- Niue
- Samoa
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Vanuatu
Countries that are deemed “very high-risk” by New Zealand and have temporary travel suspensions are:
As with all COVID-19 regulations, these rules are subject to change. Travelers should always stay informed of the latest travel restrictions in their country of destination.
COVID situation in New Zealand
New Zealand has had amongst the lowest infection and death rates per population in the world.
It has recorded less than 8,000 cases in total and 32 deaths as of November 10th, 2021.
The vaccination rate in New Zealand is also constantly on the rise and as November, more than 65% of the population has been vaccinated with 7.1 million doses.