Update - 7 May 2020

COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit main page

Today’s guidance and attachments – Alert Level 2

Today the Prime Minister announced further detail on what life will look like when we shift down to Alert Level 2.

Please note: we remain at Alert Level 3 until we are notified of any change by the Government. Cabinet will consider any change in Alert Level on Monday 11 May.

However, to allow for planning ahead of a move to Alert Level 2, we are sharing with you a number of separate attachments with sector-specific and more general guidance.

These are outlined in greater detail below, but include:

Guidance for council services at Alert Level 2 – we know these are much anticipated and have worked hard to have these for you as soon as possible for your planning purposes.

Read more about the council services at Alert Level 2 (PDF, 1MB)

All-of-Government FAQs for Alert Level 2 and updated Alert Level Tables. Please share these with your council communications teams for use with your communities as appropriate.

COVID-19 Alert Levels Summary (PDF, 1MB)

Detailed COVID-19 Alert Levels (PDF, 2MB)

Alert level 2 - Frequently asked questions (PDF, 870KB)

Further guidance on by-election changes – not specific to a change in alert levels (PDF, 657KB).

Guidance for council services at Alert Level 2

The attached guidance has been developed for council services based on the decisions the Government has made for Alert Levels.

We hope it will help councils manage the transition to Alert Level 2 and support consistency in the delivery of local government services across New Zealand.

The Response Unit has worked with some council representatives to develop this guidance and we would like to thank you all for your input into this process; your expertise is crucial to ensuring this guidance is fit for purpose.

We will also publish the guidance on the COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit webpage.

We will continue to work to refine this guidance as future Cabinet decisions are made and other sectors finalise their Alert Level 2 guidance and will keep you up to date on any changes. We also anticipate being able to include the NEMA guidance on CDEM functions in local government at Alert Level 2 shortly.

If you have any enquiries around council services/operations at Level 2 please send these enquiries to the Response Unit through to this COVID-19 inbox or your regular SOLGM/LGNZ/DIA contacts.

Alert Level 2 framework announcement: general All-of-Government information

Read more about the revised detailed All-of-Government frameworks.

Changes to the framework reflect that the situation we were in while entering Level 2 many weeks ago is different to that we will be in when the decision is made to drop from Alert Level 3 to 2. You will notice changes include: allowing inter-regional travel in a safe way, a more nuanced physical distancing approach, and a phased return of some activities such as contact sport. Good personal hygiene, physical distancing, border control and contact tracing remain key to our COVID-19 response.

Below are some golden rules for businesses and public under Alert Level 2, and attached are a set of All of Government FAQs that you may find useful in conversations with your communities and planning for a transition to Alert Level 2.

Golden rules for business at Alert Level 2

Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe. 

1. COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe. 
2. All businesses can operate if they can do so safely. Alternative ways of working are encouraged where possible.
3. Hospitality business should keep customers seated, separated, and with a single server.
4. Talk with your workers to identify risks and ways to manage them.
5. Ask everyone – workers, contractors and customers – with cold or flu-like symptoms to stay away from your premises.
6. Keep groups of customers at least 1 metre apart
7. Keep contact-tracing records of anyone who will have close interaction (workers, contractors or customers).
8. Reduce the number of shared surfaces, and regularly disinfect them.
9. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.

 

The Golden Rules for everyone at Alert Level 2

Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission – we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe. 

1. COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe.
2. Keep your distance from other people in public.
3. If you’re sick, stay home. Don’t go to work or school. Don’t socialise.
4. If you have symptoms of cold or flu call your doctor or Healthline and get tested.
5. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
6. Sneeze and cough into your elbow, regularly disinfect surfaces.
7. If you have been told to self-isolate you must do so immediately.
8. Keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen.

 

COVID-19 by-election changes: sector guidance

On Tuesday the Government introduced the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill.

Read more about the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill.           

Attached is detailed information about the proposed temporary changes to local by-election legislation, which are contained in the Bill. This covers:

• The New Order in Council mechanism to adjust key dates for future by-elections;
• Discretion for the Chief Executive to delay the commencement of election timeframes;
• Specific adjustment to defer the voting period for the Ōtorohanga ward by-election; and
• Public notice changes.

The Bill has been referred to the Epidemic Response Committee for consideration and is intended to be passed by 15 May 2020. Please note that the Bill may be subject to change during the Parliamentary process – we will keep you updated of any changes through this email as well as providing further information on the changes where required.