New Zealand Goverment Covid-19

Unite against COVID-19 - what you need to know. 

The New Zealand Government Covid-19 Alert Levels are determined by the Government and specify the public health and social measures to be taken in the fight against COVID-19. Go straight to the current Alert Levels descriptions.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

MFAT has a webpage dedicated to COVID-19 and the impact on trade

Ministry for Business and Innovation

The MBIE Covid webpage provides information for employers and employees.

If you have specific queries about whether your business is an essential service, you can email essential@mbie.govt.nz or call 0508 377 388 (call centre is open until 6pm)

Ministry for Primary Industries

MPI has developed a webpage to provide information for Covid-19 trade issues. Specific questions regarding trade can be directed to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) at Covid-19.Trade@mpi.govt.nz

New Zealand Trade and Entrprise

NZTE provides information for exporters on its Covid-19 homepage and myfreight page and an email address for freight related issues -  myfreight@nzte.govt.nz.

The Singapore-New Zealand Airfreight Project (SNAP) seeks to provide airfreight capacity at pre-COVID rates for designated essential products, including food, medicines, medical and surgical equipment traded between Singapore and New Zealand. A rate has been set at SG$1.60 / NZ$1.86 per kg for essential goods on scheduled flights. Detailed information on the project, as well as an updated request list for essential supplies from Singapore is available on the NZTE website following this link:

Please note some of the information is password protected and the password to the NZ Exporters folder is: NZSaccess (case sensitive).

The webpage details the schedule of the eight Air NZ and Singapore Airlines flights, outlines how the scheme works, and provides frequently asked questions. Two trial flights have already been successfully completed.

The NZ Food Safety Science and Research Centre

NZFSSRC has launched a page on its website dedicated to COVID 19 news and resources.

Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health website has a dedicated Covid-19 (novel coronovirus) area.

The Ministry of Health has developed a portal for non-health related essential services to make application for the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Applications via the portal enables the Ministry of Health to forecast usage and allocate PPE on a national basis (face masks in the first instance) to staff working in essential services. It is noted that companies are encouraged to continue to engage with their own supply channels as a request made via the portal is not a guarantee of supply.

MOH advises that any questions regarding health essential services can be directed here: essentialservices@health.govt.nz

Where not health or disability related, they can go to MBIE at essential@mbie.govt.nz

Work and Income NZ

The WINZ website has useful information on support for employers and  essential workers' leave 

A register of employers who have claimed the Government subsiidy.

Stress counselling and Support for Employees

The Work and Income site suggests employees seek support from:

There are also several resources that the Government has contributed funds to, in support of the mental wellbeing of employees.  The following links may be of interest to your employees:   

  1. https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/covid-19/
  2. https://www.mentemia.com/employees.   Free app on mental health from Sir Jon Kirwan.

Ministry of Transport

The MoT Covid-19 webpage includes guidance on transport essential services during the Level 4 period.

International Air Freight Capacity (IAFC) webpage outlines government support for the aviation sector.

New Zealand Customs New Zealand

The Customs New Zealand website provides advice on essential and non-essential goods.

Treasury - New Zealand Export Credit (NZEC)

COVID-19 has created significant uncertainty for exporters, NZEC has financial guarantees which can be used to help exporters access additional working capital from banks and insurances to mitigate the risk of non-payment.  The team at NZEC has been working very closely with banks, insurers and exporters ro find ways to help provide certainty for New Zealand’s exporters. 

For help with cash-flow, non-payment, scaling for growth or selling to new buyers - Phone: 04 917 6060 / Email: exportcredit@treasury.govt.nz / Website: https://exportcredit.treasury.govt.nz/

Immigration New Zealand

Go to the INZ website for information on visas.