The government announces conditions for limited movement
Wellington, October 4, 2021
Key things to note
Auckland remains in Alert level 3. From 11.59 pm on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, it will carefully transition out of current restrictions over three steps, with regular check-ins to ensure the virus is actively controlled before further easing.
The Northwest Waikato area has moved to Alert Level 3 for five days as health officials track the source of a Covid-19 positive case in Raglan and another in Hamilton East.
The easing of Auckland’s restrictions does not apply to the Level 3 areas in Waikato.
The remainder of New Zealand is at Alert Level 2; however the cap of 100 people gathering at hospitality venues will be removed at 11.59 pm on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, but the “seated and separated” rule will remain.
Baby returns positive Covid-19 test, after a visitor to maternity ward tests positive for Covid -19. Overnight Sunday, three household contacts of the Raglan case tested positive for Covid-19. All three have been moved to an Auckland quarantine facility.
Initial tests from all four close contacts associated with worksites of the Auckland-based truck driver, who is isolating in Palmerston North, have returned initial negative results.
New Zealand passed the two million mark for second doses of vaccine administered (2,018, 305) today, with 48% of eligible New Zealanders fully vaccinated.
Reconnecting Auckland
A Roadmap for Auckland has been announced to carefully move out of current Covid-19 restrictions. The Cabinet has confirmed to ease restrictions in Auckland using a three-step approach. So, Auckland will remain at Alert Level 3, but with several key changes.
The best way for Aucklanders to ensure that we can keep easing the restrictions is to get vaccinated and follow public health advice.
Step 1 of the plan will see the following Alert Level 3 restrictions in Auckland start to ease from 11.59 pm, Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
People will be able to connect with loved ones outdoors with no more than two households at a time, up to a maximum of 10 people.
Early learning centres will be able to reopen with staff wearing face coverings, and with children in bubbles of 10. ECE teachers are being asked to get tested before they return to teaching. People will be able to travel throughout the Auckland region to undertake an expanded range of outdoor activities. For example, people will be able the visit the beach, sail, go fishing on a boat, hunt, participate in outdoor exercise classes. Activities must comply with the 10-people limit.
Everyone is encouraged to wear a face-covering whenever they leave the house.
Further steps to ease restrictions will be taken but will depend on public health advice.
Step 2 of the plan is for retail to open its doors with the usual measures. Public facilities will open and the number of people who can meet outdoors will be increased to 25.
Step 3 of the plan is to reopen hospitality venues such as cafes and restaurants; events facilities like cinemas and casinos, and close-contact businesses such as hairdressers and beauty salons. Outdoor and indoor social gatherings of up to 50 will go ahead.
These changes will depend on what happens in the coming weeks.
Auckland Boundaries
To provide confidence that Covid-19 will not be transmitted across the boundary, air and land boundaries between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand remain heavily restricted. Most people will not be permitted to travel across it without specified permission or exemptions.
Most people who are permitted to cross the boundary for business or personal reasons will require a Covid-19 test, with people travelling for permitted personal reasons requiring evidence of a negative result taken within 72 hours of travelling.
Parts of Waikato in Alert Level 3
Waikato communities of Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Ngaruawahia and Hamilton City (based on the Hamilton city boundary) are in Alert Level 3.
People should stay home, wear face coverings when out and about, keeping track of where they’ve been, and maintain social distancing.
People should get vaccinated and get tested if they are sick. Testing stations are listed on the Healthpoint website.
The government intends for these level three restrictions to apply for up to the next five days.
NorthWest Waikato – Alert Level Boundary Movement
Alert Level boundaries are in place around NorthWest Waikato. To see a map of areas included in Alert level 3 see here.
Residents in Alert Level 3 areas are asked to maintain Alert level 3 behaviours, and not leave the area unless for permitted reasons, to reduce the risk of it spreading further.
People can travel from an Alert Level 2 area to the Waikato Alert Level 3 area, and back again, for limited, permitted reasons. This includes for work in permitted business and services, as listed on the United Against Covid website.
People cannot cross from the Waikato Alert Level 3 area to work in an Alert Level 2 area, except for work in permitted businesses and services, as listed on the Unite Against Covid website.
Anyone travelling in and out of the Waikato Alert Level 3 area -other than across the boundary with Auckland –is not required to provide evidence of a recent test.
People travelling for permitted reasons should carry evidence of the purpose of travel and be prepared to explain reasons for travel if they are stopped at a checkpoint or for a spot check.
A formal business travel document is not required, but it is recommended people carry a letter from their employer confirming their place of work and need to travel.
Permitted reasons and advice for travel across the Waikato Alert Level boundaries are on the Unite Against Covid website.
Changes to cap for hospitality venues at Level 2
From 11.59 pm, Tuesday, October 5, 2021, the 100-person cap for hospitality venues and event facilities (indoor and outdoor) will be removed, but the “seated and separated” rule will remain. Maximum capacity will be determined by the number of customers that can be physically separated by one metre.
The limit of 100 will continue to apply to social gatherings (including funerals, tangihanga and weddings) which do not use the seated and separated rule.
For more information on all of these key points, visit Unite Against COVID-19
Source: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Wellington
