COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit Update - Thursday 17 June - Thursday 24 June 2021
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Update - Thursday 17 June 2021
Here’s todays update
Epidemic notice remains in force
On 14 June 2021, the Prime Minister renewed the Epidemic Notice, extending the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 (the Principal Notice) for a further three months.
As a result, the Principal Notice will remain in force until 20 September 2021.
As we have noted in previous updates to you, a number of amendments relevant to local government remain in force while the Principal Notice is in force.
Provisions relevant to local government that are tied to the Epidemic Notice
The following provisions will remain in place until the Principal Notice expires or is revoked:
the amendments to enable council meetings via audio or visual link to meet quorum requirements regardless of Council Standing Orders;
the provisions enabling council meetings to be open to the public through online access and to post meeting agendas, reports and minutes on council websites rather than physical locations;
new members of Council can continue to make their statutory declaration (oath of office) via audio or audio-visual link;
rates rebate applicants can complete the statutory declaration requirement via audio or visual link; and
the Order-in-Council mechanism for making further changes to by-election timing and provisions enabling local authority chief executives to delay the commencement of by-election timeframes.
Update - Wednesday 23 June 2021
Here’s todays update
Today, the COVID-19 Response Minister announced that the Wellington Region will move to Alert Level 2 at 6.00pm tonight (23 June 2021). The area includes Wairarapa and Kapiti Coast.
A map of the confirmed boundaries that Alert Level 2 will apply to will be on the COVID-19 website here when it becomes available.
The new Alert Level will remain in place until 11:59pm on Sunday 27 June 2021.
The rest of the country remains at Alert Level 1.
If you’re living at Alert Level 2, you can travel anywhere in New Zealand that is at Alert Level 1 or 2, but make sure you do it in a safe way.
The Response Unit remains on hand to support you, you can send enquiries to your usual Taituarā, LGNZ, DIA contacts or this inbox: LGCGcovid19response@dia.govt.nz
If you live in the Wellington Region, Alert Level 2 means you need to:
Keep your distance from other people when out in public.
Wear a face covering on public transport and wherever you can’t maintain a physical distance of 2m from others when out in public.
Stay at home if you are sick; don’t go to work or school and don’t socialise.
If you have symptoms of a cold or flu, or aches and pains, call your doctor or Healthline and ask about getting tested.
No more than 100 people at social gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga.
Keep washing your hands and keep track of where you have been at all times.
Visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website for a list of locations of interest, more information about the Alert Levels, and testing locations in Wellington and the rest of the country.
Keeping communities safe
Remember the four golden rules:
- Wash your hands
- Scan QR codes
- Turn on Bluetooth tracing on the NZ COVID Tracer app
- Stay home if you’re feeling unwell and get advice about a COVID-19 test.
Face coverings are mandatory on all forms of public transport and domestic flights across the country no matter the Alert Level.
Epidemic notice remains in force
The following provisions will remain in place until the Principal Notice expires or is revoked:
the amendments to enable council meetings via audio or visual link to meet quorum requirements regardless of Council Standing Orders;
the provisions enabling council meetings to be open to the public through online access and to post meeting agendas, reports and minutes on council websites rather than physical locations;
new members of Council can continue to make their statutory declaration (oath of office) via audio or audio-visual link;
rates rebate applicants can complete the statutory declaration requirement via audio or visual link; and
the Order-in-Council mechanism for making further changes to by-election timing and provisions enabling local authority chief executives to delay the commencement of by-election timeframes.
Update - Thursday 24 June 2021
Here’s todays update
Yesterday (23 June) at 6.00pm, the Greater Wellington Region moved to Alert Level 2. The area includes Ōtaki, Waikawa Beach, Manakau, Wairarapa, and Kāpiti Coast.
A map of the confirmed boundaries that apply under Alert Level 2 is on the COVID-19 website here.
The new Alert Level will remain in place until 11:59pm on Sunday 27 June 2021.
The rest of the country remains at Alert Level 1.
While travel is not restricted under Alert Level 2, you should take your alert level behaviours with you if travelling out of the Greater Wellington region to the rest of New Zealand.
In the case of a move to Alert Level 3, we recommend that councils in the Greater Wellington Region and surrounding districts ensure that they are familiar with the process for applying for exemptions for workers to travel across alert level boundaries. Information on how to apply is available from MBIE at Business travel across Alert Level Boundaries — business.govt.nz .
The Response Unit remains on hand to support you, you can send enquiries to your usual Taituarā, LGNZ, DIA contacts or this inbox: LGCGcovid19response@dia.govt.nz
If you live in the Greater Wellington region, Alert Level 2 means you need to:
Keep physical distancing of 2 metres from people you don’t know when out in public.
Keep 1 metre physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces, where practical.
Wear a face covering on public transport, and in public where physical distancing is not possible.
Stay at home if you are sick; don’t go to work or school and don’t socialise.
If you have symptoms of a cold or flu, or aches and pains, call your doctor or Healthline and ask about getting tested.
No more than 100 people at social gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, funerals and tangihanga.
Keep washing your hands and keep track of where you have been at all times.
Visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website for a list of locations of interest, more information about the Alert Levels, and testing locations in Wellington and the rest of the country.
Keeping communities safe
Remember the four golden rules:
- Wash your hands
- Scan QR codes
- Turn on Bluetooth tracing on the NZ COVID Tracer app
- Stay home if you’re feeling unwell and get advice from Healthline about a COVID-19 test
Face coverings are mandatory on all forms of public transport and domestic flights across the country no matter the Alert Level.
Epidemic notice remains in force
The following provisions will remain in place until the Principal Notice expires or is revoked:
the amendments to enable council meetings via audio or visual link to meet quorum requirements regardless of Council Standing Orders;
the provisions enabling council meetings to be open to the public through online access and to post meeting agendas, reports and minutes on council websites rather than physical locations;
new members of Council can continue to make their statutory declaration (oath of office) via audio or audio-visual link;
rates rebate applicants can complete the statutory declaration requirement via audio or visual link; and
the Order-in-Council mechanism for making further changes to by-election timing and provisions enabling local authority chief executives to delay the commencement of by-election timeframes.
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