by INGSA Secretariat | posted in: Uncategorized | 0 19 January 2021 – Pre-departure testing now required for most inbound travellers 15 January 2021 – Quarantine-free travel bubble begins with Cook Islands 14 January 2021 – Border exception for 1000 international students 03 January 2021 – Pre-flight testing required for UK/US arrivals 28 December 2020 – Zero day testing required for international arrivals 18 December 2020 – Funding for COVID-19 response and quarantine facilities allocated to June 2022 17 December 2020 – Support for vaccine rollout in Pacific Nations 17 December 2020 – Vaccines secured for every New Zealander 15 December 2020 – COVID-19 Resurgence business support schemes announced 15 December 2020 – Summer resurgence plan announced 15 December 2020 – Business recovery package announced as part of resurgence plans 11 December 2020 – Bluetooth Tracing introduced to digital contact tracing app 11 December 2020 – Bluetooth Tracing introduced to NZ COVID Tracer app 19 November 2020 – In-principle arrangement to buy 5 million vaccine doses 16 November 2020 – Mandatory masks for public transport in Auckland and domestic flights 12 November 2020 – COVID Tracer App used to notify potential exposure 10 November 2020 – Government secures 1.5 million doses of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 03 November 2020 – COVID Card trial begins in Rotorua 30 October 2020 – Government provides safety advice for Halloween 23 October 2020 – Public health messaging push for (3-day) Labour Weekend 21 October 2020 – People potentially exposed at pub asked to self-isolate 05 October 2020 – Auckland moved to Alert Level 1 21 September 2020 – Auckland moved to Alert Level 2, rest of NZ to Level 1 14 September 2020 – Auckland remains at Level 2.5, rest of NZ Level 2, public transport distancing removed 14 September 2020 – NZ to remain at Alert Level 2, extra restrictions on gatherings 11 September 2020 – 12 month extension to NZ-Residency visa holders who are overseas 08 September 2020 – Additional support for NCEA students announced 08 September 2020 – Government to help travel agents refund tourists with funds locked up overseas 04 September 2020 – Extension of Auckland’s Level 2.5 and rest of country’s Level 2 status 04 September 2020 – New Zealand to remain at Alert Level 2 03 September 2020 – Jury trials to resume in Auckland 30 August 2020 – Country at Level 2, Auckland Level 2.5, masks on public transport required 12 August 2020 – Delay in pre-election dissolution of Parliament following community outbreak 12 August 2020 – Staff of outbreak-affected businesses in Auckland ordered to self-quarantine 12 August 2020 – Mandatory for businesses to display QR code for contract tracing app 12 August 2020 – Second ‘lockdown’ announced with Level 3 restrictions introduced 12 August 2020 – Country changes to Alert Level 2 while Auckland to Alert Level 3 10 August 2020 – Government announces $69 million online learning package 06 August 2020 – CovidCard trial to go ahead in Rotorua 05 August 2020 – Legislation for managed isolation payments 28 July 2020 – Air New Zealand extends freeze on international bookings 28 July 2020 – Government announces international education response and recovery package 15 July 2020 – Plan for when new cases of COVID-19 community transmission occurs 07 July 2020 – Air NZ places temporary hold on new bookings to relieve pressure on managed isolation facilities 07 July 2020 – Air NZ and Singapore Airlines restrict passenger numbers to NZ 02 July 2020 – Minister of Health resigns as public opinion turns against him 28 June 2020 – Managed isolation and quarantine procedures reviewed 26 June 2020 – Department of Conservation waives fees for tourism operators 21 June 2020 – New managed isolation facilities established in Rotorua 19 June 2020 – Minister Woods to oversee isolation and quarantine facilities 17 June 2020 – Assistant Chief of Defence to oversee isolation and quarantine facilities 16 June 2020 – Controversy as two new cases travel through country on compassionate grounds 16 June 2020 – Two new cases after more than 3 weeks of being COVID-free 16 June 2020 – All compassionate exemptions from isolation/quarantine suspended 16 June 2020 – COVID-19 Recovery Bill fast tracked to support economic recovery 15 June 2020 – RMA to be amended to fast track “shovel ready” projects 12 June 2020 – Border exceptions to support families and economic recovery 12 June 2020 – Border restrictions amended, including to allow America’s Cup syndicates to enter 11 June 2020 – Independent review of COVID-19 clusters in aged residential care facilities 11 June 2020 – Ministry of Health publishes report on aged care residential facilities 09 June 2020 – Policy-making regime shifts from “Unite for Covid” to “Unite for Recovery” 08 June 2020 – Tourism Sector Recovery Plan announced 08 June 2020 – Government announces $400 million to protect ‘iconic’ tourist businesses 08 June 2020 – Most lockdown restrictions lifted as country enter Level 1 with no active cases 29 May 2020 – Easing of restrictions, gatherings allowed up to 100 people 28 May 2020 – Rescue funding package for arts and culture sector 27 May 2020 – Media reveals certain foreign nationals allowed into the country 27 May 2020 – NZ COVID Tracer contact tracing app released 25 May 2020 – Government announces new social welfare payment for people who lose their job 21 May 2020 – Stranded non-resident visa holders raise unable to return to NZ 20 May 2020 – Ministry of Health Launches contact tracing app 14 May 2020 – Rules relaxed to allow 50 person gathering, such as funerals 13 May 2020 – Immigration Amendment Bill passed to give government new powers 12 May 2020 – Government provide $4 Billion support to health delivery to clear backlog 11 May 2020 – PM announces timeline for easing of restrictions 08 May 2020 – Ministry of health reviews requests for exemptions that were previously declined 08 May 2020 – New Zealand COVID-19 testing system ready for next phase 08 May 2020 – Government publicly releases documents relating to decisions as part of its response to COVID-19 07 May 2020 – New Alert Level 2 information released 06 May 2020 – Legality of government’s extraordinary powers during lockdown challenged 06 May 2020 – New screening questionnaire developed for Aged Residential Care facilities 06 May 2020 – PM expresses skepticism about contact tracing apps 05 May 2020 – Government to temporarily amend immigration law to allow for via flexibility 04 May 2020 – Southern District Health Board releases worst-case scenario modelling 04 May 2020 – High Court allows man to visit dying father against Ministry of Health decision 04 May 2020 – New Zealand reports first day of no new cases 02 May 2020 – Government to provide interest free loans to small businesses 02 May 2020 – $20 million fund established to support online learning for tertiary students 02 May 2020 – Group of seven countries who have made progress in containing COVID-19 discuss how to rebuild business ties and tourism 01 May 2020 – Government launches new tool to inform public on financial support 30 April 2020 – New COVID-19 Response Bill delivers businesses $3 billion in tax refunds 28 April 2020 – Government launches helpline to support and advise businesses 27 April 2020 – Ministry of Health plans to make contact tracing app available within two weeks 26 April 2020 – Government audits wage subsidy program, some businesses required to repay subsidies 26 April 2020 – Emergency Housing for Homeless provisions put in place 26 April 2020 – Ministry for Primary Industries advises businesses on precautions for Level 3 23 April 2020 – Air New Zealand announces significant scaling back of international passenger services 23 April 2020 – $50M support package announced for commercial media 22 April 2020 – Ministry of Health confirms it has no plans to test for re-infection 22 April 2020 – Medsafe announces that non-approved COVID-19 test kits will be banned from sale More