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With those based south of Auckland set to move down to Covid-19 alert level three come Wednesday, the Government is reminding people to ensure their movement is for essential purposes only.
Travel into or out of regions at different alert levels is restricted.
There will be Police checkpoints to stop unnecessary travel. Businesses need to provide staff with proof of eligibility to travel across an alert level boundary, such as the documentation generated by MBIE’s Business Travel Register.
Businesses will not be able to re-use travel documents that were applied for during previous alert level changes and will need to reapply for new documents.
If a person is carrying out a permitted activity listed in the alert level order, they are already allowed to cross the boundary provided they have evidence that the activity is permitted.
People can also apply for an exemption for business travel from the Director-General of Health via the Business Travel Register. There is a very high threshold for exemptions. Requests will need to meet criteria and many requests will not be approved.
“Businesses must have systems and processes in place to minimise travel across the boundary or between regions within an alert level area,” the Government said.
Full details for business travel across Alert level 3 and 4 boundaries can be found here.
Location of boundaries
After 11.59pm Tuesday 31 August Northland and Auckland regions will remain at level 4 and the rest of New Zealand will be at level 3.
A Business Travel Document is specific to an alert level boundary, and the duration of that event.
A detailed planned alert level boundary map can be found here.
Business travel applications
Employees cannot register themselves.
An authorised person who has a good understanding of your business’s travel requirements (who needs to travel, what boundaries they need to cross, why they must travel) should be nominated to apply on behalf of the business or employees.
Apply for business travel here.
What you need to apply:
- The physical address of the location each worker will be travelling to and/or from so you can group employees according to where they work.
- The travel category you are applying under along with a brief explanation about how your business operations fit within the category and why this travel is required.
- The boundaries you or your workers might need to travel across (if there is more than one).
- The type of travel your workers will need to do (see above for travel types).
- The names of all the workers you are requesting documents for. Make sure you include your own details if you need to travel, as well as those of your workers.
Rules for business at Alert Level 3
If your business requires close physical contact it cannot operate.
Staff should continue to work from home if they can.
Businesses need to display a QR code and have an alternative contact tracing system.
Customers cannot come onto business premises (Unless it is a supermarket, dairy, butcher, fishmonger, greengrocer, petrol station, pharmacy or permitted health service.)
Your business legally must be contactless. Your customers can pay online, over the phone or in a contactless way. Delivery or pick-up legally must also be contactless.
Basic hygiene measures legally must be maintained. Physical distancing, handwashing and regularly cleaning surfaces. Workers legally must stay home if they’re sick.
Staff legally must remain a minimum of 1 metre apart at all times where practical. Other measures, such as PPE including face coverings are recommended to be used where appropriate.
You legally must meet all other health and safety obligations.
