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Update - Wednesday 26 August 2020

COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit main page

Frequency of Response Unit updates

  • The Response Unit continues to meet regularly and are on hand to support you as required as we move forward.
  • We will continue to provide updates to you on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday basis.

Here’s today’s update

  • The Auckland region (Auckland Council area) remains at Alert Level 3 until 11:59pm Sunday 30 August and the rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
  • Following this the country, including Auckland, will remain at Alert Level 2 for a further week until 11.59pm on Sunday 6 September.
  • The Response Unit remains on hand to support you. You can send enquiries to your usual SOLGM, LGNZ, DIA contacts or this inbox: LGCGcovid19response@dia.govt.nz

New requirements for public transport

  • The Government has today announced that most forms of public transport will be required to display a NZ COVID Tracer QR code from Thursday, 3 September 2020.
  • This follows the move to make masks mandatory for travel on public transport and flights at Alert Level 2 and above from Monday 31 August 2020.
  • Further communications around public transport settings will be sent out via Waka Kotahi’s NERT email alert system.
  • Should you wish to subscribe to this mailing list, please contact NERT@nzta.govt.nz

Face mask disposal

  • Incorrect disposal of face masks as loose litter or in recycling bins is an emerging issue. Key messaging and social media content has been produced around the appropriate disposal of face masks and this is now available on the Ministry for the Environment’s website and social media platforms (https://www.mfe.govt.nz/waste/rubbish-and-recycling-during-covid-19-response-level-2-and-level-3)
  • This information has also been included in the official AOG COVID-19 information on mask use. 
  • These messages and social media content have been sent to WasteMINZ, the waste sector’s representative organisation, which will distribute to all councils for their use as required.

Caring 4 Communities - Regional Leadership Groups, Resurgence planning and LTPs

  • It is important all parts of New Zealand are well prepared to respond to a resurgence of COVID-19 and a local escalation in Alert Levels. Regional leadership groups have been asked to extend their governance and oversight from social and/or economic recovery to also include ‘readiness for response’ planning.
  • Regional leadership groups are transitioning to this wider focus across the country and appreciate that elected members and local officials are participating in and supporting the them alongside other partners such as iwi, Pasifika, ethnic communities and public service leaders.
  • CDEM Groups will continue to provide the operational coordination across emergency management partners during any response. But the regional leadership groups are an important governance mechanism, which complement the existing Joint Committee under the CDEM Act, linking all of response activity to the wider recovery activity. Social and economic recovery will need to continue and adapt during any resurgence, so this link is critical.
  • We are aware of concern that the resurgence planning requirements may place added pressure on councils, especially in light of obligations stemming from the 2021-31 long-term planning process.
  • We are working at pace to better understand how we can assist with streamlining obligations from the long-term planning process and the resurgence planning guidelines. We will update you on this in due course. 
  • A range of guidance to support this activity has been provided, including:
    • High level documents outlining the role of regional leadership groups and CDEM Groups, provided by the Response Unit on 14 August 2020; and
    • More detailed planning guidance about readiness and response arrangements for regional coordination and leadership in response to cases of community transmission in New Zealand, provided by NEMA to CDEM Group Managers and forwarded on by Caring for Communities to local government, central government, and iwi who are the Chairs/Coordinators of each of the regional leadership groups on 19 August 2020.
  • SOLGM has issued a practice note on navigating the post-lockdown LTP which is available on their website.

Local government legislative amendments remain in place

  • In addition to working through the above LTP considerations, we note that temporary legislative amendments are still available to you under the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 Renewal Notice 2020 (the Renewal Notice), which extends the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 (the Principal Notice) until 24 September 2020:
    • 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.
    • 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 remain available.
  • Other amendments have specified repeal dates not tied to the Epidemic Notice being in force. Those relevant to local government include:
    • Amendments to provide more flexibility in the special consultative procedure process if urgent decisions relating to the COVID-19 response are needed – remains in force until 1 October 2020.
    • Amendments to the definition of public notice in a number of Acts that place a “reasonably practicable” caveat on the requirements for inclusion in a newspaper – remain in force until 1 November 2020.
    • The extensions providing for bylaws that would otherwise be revoked by section 160A of the Local Government Act 2002 or section 58 of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 to continue in force until 30 June 2021 – remains in force until 1 July 2021. 
  • Further to the above, the Covid-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill (no2) has been passed, giving effect to a two-month extension for local authorities to prepare their annual reports, if required.
  • Under this legislation, the new dates for local authorities to meet reporting timeframes are 30 November 2020 for Council Controlled Organisations and 31 December 2020 for Councils. The extension will be repealed 1 February 2021.
  • Amendments to the Resource Management Act to allow for RMA hearings to be held by audio visual link, video and certain documents to be made available online have also been made permanent and the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 is now in force and is being operationalised by the EPA and MfE http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/0035/latest/LMS345539.html
  • The Ministry is beginning to process applications for referred projects and seeking decisions from the Minister for the Environment. Information of the application process is located here: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/rma-processes-and-how-get-involved/fast-track-consenting-process-through-order-council.

COVID-19 Response Preparedness

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