Monday 29 November, 4pm
Today the government has announced which colour each region of New Zealand will be at when the country enters the traffic light system this Friday December 3.
The regions at red will be:
Northland, Auckland, Taupō and Rotorua Lakes Districts, Kawerau, Whakatane, Ōpōtiki Districts, Gisborne District, Wairoa District, Rangitikei, Whanganui, and Ruapehu Districts.
The rest of the North Island and the whole of the South Island will move in at orange.
No region will move to green any earlier than January 17.
A quick overview of the traffic light system:
At each colour of the traffic light system, vaccinated people have more freedoms.
Red:
"People can gather again safely,” says Ardern. “Your vaccine pass lets you go everywhere but number limits of 100 will apply to most activities."
Ardern says red will feel a lot like level 2 for the vaccinated. But for those that are unvaccinated, freedoms "will be restricted" to help keep people safe.
"You can now see family and friends again in their homes, and use the bathroom inside. Luxury. If you are unvaccinated you can gather with others but the gathering limits are lower across each of the levels."
- Face coverings will be mandatory on flights, public transport, in taxis, retail, public venues, and recommended whenever leaving the house.
- Places and events that enforce vaccination certificates will be able to open for up to 100 people with 1m distancing.
- Nightclubs can open, but customers must be seated and separated, which means dancing is not allowed.
For places that do not enforce vaccination certificates:
- Events, gyms and close contact businesses like hairdressers that do not enforce vaccination certificates cannot operate.
- Hospitality venues that do not enforce vaccine certificates will be contactless only.
- Gatherings, church, weddings and funerals that do not enforce vaccine certificates will be limited to 25 people with 1m distancing.
Orange:
"At orange, the big change here for parts of the country which will enter into this setting is that for the vaccinated and where vaccine passes are used, there are no gathering limits,” says Ardern.
- Face coverings will still be mandatory on flights, public transport including taxis, shops and public venues
- Places or events that enforce vaccination certificates will have no limits on them
For those places that do not enforce vaccination certificates:
- Events, gyms and close contact businesses like hairdressers that do not enforce vaccination certificates cannot operate.
- Hospitality venues that do not enforce vaccine certificates will be contactless only
- Gatherings, church, weddings and funerals that do not enforce vaccine certificates will be limited to 50 people with 1m distancing
Green:
No region will move to green any earlier than January 17.
- This is for when there are Covid cases in the community, but transmission is limited, and hospitalisations are manageable
- No regional boundaries
- Face coverings will only be mandatory on flights
- Places or events that enforce vaccination certificates will have no limits on them
For those places that do not enforce vaccination certificates:
- Places or events like hospitality, gatherings, churches, weddings, funerals, events, businesses and gyms that do not require vaccination certificates will be limited to 100 people, with 1m social distancing
The next update from cabinet will be on 17 January, and from there there will be a review on a fortnightly basis.