Covid-19

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

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

Why are business travellers more at risk?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Chris Hipkins says there needs to be a balance between control and essential goods and services continuing.

The department has missed out on almost $1m from its Great Walks, compared to the mostly pre-Covid 2019-20 season.

More than 1500 people who received a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago may not be fully protected after the doses were stored incorrectly, the Southern District Health Board says.

The Rhythm and Vines Easter event has been cancelled.

Small New Zealand businesses are feeling the impact of widespread Covid in the community and reduced foot traffic in city centers, Buy NZ Made says.

The Department of Conservation has closed the Whanganui Journey Great Walk due to confirmed cases of Covid-19 among a group of paddlers.

The first payments from the new COVID Support Payment have gone out, Finance Minister Grant Robertson has confirmed.

“Movie-like reunion scenes” indeed for Kiwis arriving from Australia yesterday… greeted by the great news of self-isolation ending on Wednesday too, from TVNZ. 

NZ’s self-isolation requirement for vaccinated arrivals will end at 11.59pm Wednesday 2 March.

The iconic tourism attraction will close its doors for good in September.

PM Jacinda Ardern says she will announce a decision at her post-cabinet press conference.

The government’s amended Covid Support Payment is a “victory” for the hospitality sector, says Hospitality New Zealand.

More than 5.2 million Rapid Antigen Tests arrived in New Zealand last week as the country moved to phase 3 of the government’s Omicron response.

The government is expecting advice on the issue with decisions to be made within the next month.

Hospitality New Zealand says the shift to phase 3 of the Omicron response is a relief and will help the sector recover and keep staff in jobs.

Whanganui & Partners is encouraging the public to show support for the local businesses that are facing extraordinary challenges as the Omicron outbreak grows.

Rapid antigen tests will also become more widely available.

The government’s Covid Support Payment scheme unveiled on Monday will not cover businesses that experienced poor trade in January, says Hospitality New Zealand.

The government is asked to “act with urgency” and remove the self-isolation arrivals requirement.

Three payments capped at $24k each will be available for hard-hit businesses.

Tourism businesses across the country say they are struggling to stay alive as the Omicron wave comes crashing down on New Zealand.

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More rapid antigen tests (RATs) are needed so that businesses can operate without having to isolate more staff than necessary, says Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett.