Update - 6 May 2020

COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit main page

Reference Group for Response Unit Recovery workstream

As consideration of recovery from COVID-19 begins, the Recovery workstream has set up a small reference group to provide advice and input from the sector.

The reference group has its first meeting this Friday.

Confirmed members are Karen Thomas (SOLGM); Jason Krupp (LGNZ); Chris Ryan (Waitomo DC); Mike Theelen (Queenstown Lakes DC); Steve Parry (Gore DC); Miriam Taris (Western BOP DC) and Barbara McKerrow (Wellington City Council).

To date the Recovery workstream has carried out a desktop analysis of local authorities’ shovel-ready project submissions and initial recovery plans, as well as Regional Development Agencies’ recovery strategies and initiatives.

The draft report from this desktop analysis will be finalised shortly.

Next steps include continued work on an overview for this workstream, and further work and refinement of a programme structure.

Caring for Communities

Today SOLGM hosted a conversation between Lil Anderson, head of the Caring for our Communities workstream, and Territorial Authority Chief Executives.

Lil briefed CEs on a proposed regional leadership model.

This model is intended to transition from the CDEM Groups’ response work by pulling the power of both systems together to build something better for communities within each region.

Key features of the model discussed were:

it being cross agency and cross system;
including iwi as strategic partners;
allowing for regional variation and leveraging off existing regional models where possible;
option of local leaders and/or iwi convening the model;
taking responsibility for identifying community needs and what’s required from central government to respond to those needs;
the strategic opportunity this presents for ‘the public sector’ to adopt a new way of operating.

The CFC team are likely to initiate contact with local government leaders to start the conversation about what is currently in place and what is needed to stand up these models.

We will keep you updated on this work.

Alcohol licensing

The Ministry of Justice has updated information on its website about alcohol licensing during COVID-19.

An Immediate Modification Order has amended sections 103 and 129 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

There are three parts to this modification order:

it suspends the obligations on Police and Medical Officers of Health to inquire into any new licence or licence renewal application that they receive from DLCs, while the Epidemic Notice is in force;
it extends the time for Police and Medical Officers of Health to report on applications: from the date on which the Epidemic Notice is lifted, Police and Medical Officers of Health will have 30 (rather than the usual 15) working days to file a report with the DLC if they oppose an application;
DLCs will be unable to make a decision on a licence application that is subject to this modification order unless they receive a report from Police and the Medical Officer of Health.

The changes made by this modification order are temporary. The modification order will expire 30 working days after the Epidemic Notice is lifted, and the law will return to normal.

Read further information on alcohol licensing during COVID-19.

Guidance on council services at Alert Level 2

The Prime Minister will give further details tomorrow at 1pm on what a move to Alert Level 2 will mean.

The decision on when the move to Level 2 will happen is to be announced on Monday 11 May at 4pm.

We are well-advanced in the sign-out process for our guidance on operations and services at Level 2, but this remains subject to Government decisions on some matters.

We aim to distribute this guidance on Friday this week and to publish it on the COVID-19 Local Government Response Unit webpage.

For the moment we remain at Alert Level 3

Information on life under Alert levels 3, 2 and 1 is available on COVID-19 Government website.

A wide range of new content has been added to the business.govt.nz website regarding workplace restrictions at different alert levels.

Worksafe has provided "Transitioning from Alert Level 4" advice including the necessary health and safety requirements for businesses.

The Government has released the class="external" Golden Rules for businesses.

The Ministry of Health has provided updated information for those managing other health conditions during COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health also has specific infectious disease control advice for workplaces here.