COVID-19 Updates - March 2021
Local Government Response Unit main page
- Update - Wednesday 3 March 2021
- Update - Friday 5 March 2021
- Update - Friday 12 March 2021
- Update - Friday 25 March 2021
Update - Wednesday 3 March 2021
Here’s today’s update
We are aware that the Auckland border remains a constant area of discussion.
We are looking into how boundaries could be more aligned to communities of interest, not just local government boundaries in the event of any future Alert Level changes. However, there will still need to be other considerations, such as the ability of police to enforce any new boundaries. We will work with local authorities as much as we can through this process.
We are also working to get information out about other boundary maps that may be relevant in the event of future lockdowns. However, note that Cabinet may adjust these boundaries at any time to make them more sensitive to the location of specific outbreaks.
We acknowledge Cabinet decision-making and implementation is getting faster with each change of Alert Levels. We appreciate that this can cause some difficulty, but we will always endeavour to get information out to you as soon as possible.
We will be in touch when Cabinet considers the next Alert Level decision.
The Response Unit remains on hand to support you. You can send enquiries to your usual Taituarā, LGNZ, and DIA contacts, or this inbox: LGCGcovid19response@dia.govt.nz
Travelling out of Auckland and travel exemptions
Aucklanders need to stay home wherever possible, to avoid any risk of spread.
Travel in and out of Auckland is restricted to permitted travel only, in exceptional circumstances.
Travel exemptions will be reactivated for people who applied and were granted a travel exemption during the earlier lockdown in February.
For all other people, they will need to have proof that they either fit into a permitted activity or have a specific exemption to travel. To help speed up the process, the government has set up the Business Travel Registration Tool to provide documentation for permitted travel or exemptions if they have been applied for.
Employees cannot register themselves, but councils can make a request on their behalf if they are required to travel across the boundary in order to deliver critical services.
More information on how to register for the Business Travel Tool can be found at the Business New Zealand website . A video explaining how to use the Business Travel Register can be found here.
If your request relates to personal or individual travel and it is not permitted, you will need to apply for an exemption. This is processed by the Ministry of Health and can be accessed at the Ministry of Health website.
The Epidemic Notice remains in force
As we have noted in previous updates to you, the Epidemic Notice remains in force which ensures that number of amendments relevant to local government are still in place.
The following provisions will remain in place until the 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.
The provisions providing extensions for bylaws that would otherwise be revoked by section 160A of the Local Government Act 2002 to continue in force until 30 June 2021, remain in force until 1 July 2021.
Update - Friday 5 March 2021
Here’s today’s update
Today, the Prime Minister announced that Auckland will move to Alert Level 2 at 6am Sunday 7 March 2021. The rest of New Zealand will move to Alert Level 1.
The Alert Level boundary continues but there will be no checkpoints as there is no prohibition on cross-boundary travel under Alert Level 2.
If you live in Auckland, 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’ve been at all times.
Face coverings will continue to be mandatory on public transport across the country.
Cabinet will review these alert level settings on Friday, 12 March.
Visit the Unite Against COVID-19 website for more information about Alert Levels.
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
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Update - Friday 12 March 2021
Here’s today’s update
Today, the Prime Minister announced that Auckland will move to Alert Level 1 at 12:00 pm midday today, Friday 12 March.
Face coverings will continue to be mandatory on public transport across the country.
Status of Epidemic Notice
Some of the temporary legislative amendments to support governance and decision making through the COVID-19 event, such as the ability to hold council meetings by audio/visual link, remain in force while the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 remains in force.
The Epidemic Notice is currently due to expire on 22 March 2021. However, the Government can extend the notice past this date.
The notice gives effect to a wide range of COVID-19 related measures and the decision on whether to extend it will need to consider all these matters.
We acknowledge your need for greater certainty for your forward planning of council meetings and to ensure meetings can be held over audio/visual link if there are further alert level changes in the future. We have given this feedback to relevant central government agencies working on extending the notice. We cannot provide any further update on the ongoing status of the Epidemic Notice at this time, however we will update you as soon as we can.
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
Update – Friday 25 March 2021
Here’s today’s update
Epidemic notice remains in force
On 17 March 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 21 June 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.
Provisions relevant to local government not tied to the Epidemic Notice
The provisions providing extensions for bylaws, that would otherwise be revoked by section 160A of the Local Government Act 2002 to continue in force until 30 June 2021, remain in force until 1 July 2021.
