Infographic: Everything you need to know
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has outlined exactly how and when we’ll move to level 2. The main changes will happen over a week, starting in a series of stages from this Thursday.
The key stages
Thursday, May 14: Most shops, cafes and restaurants, can reopen, along with gyms and health services. Domestic travel can restart. However all social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people. This restriction will be reviewed in two weeks.
Monday, May 18: Schools and early learning centres can reopen.
Thursday, May 21: Bars can open under the ‘three S’ rules - seating for all patrons, space between tables and a single server for each table.
Businesses and workplaces
All businesses (except bars) can open from Thursday but they must keep a record of everyone who comes onto their premises for contact tracing and must maintain physical distancing of 1m between groups of customers. Services can also be provided on customers’ premises, for example, cleaning and home help.
Businesses which rely on close personal contact such as hairdressers and home help providers will need to wear ‘appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment)’.
Social distancing
Under level 2 you can leave your immediate household (your bubble) and socialise with close friends and wide family - but only up to a maximum of 10 people. So you could have a few friends over for a meal for instance, but parties are still banned. Families of more than 10 people can stay together.
Keep your distance in public from people you do not know (ideally 2m). Keep a 1m physical distance in other environments such as cafes, church groups, restaurants and retail stores.
Gatherings and events
All social gatherings are limited to 10 people, meaning most weddings, funerals, large family events, religious services and public meetings must be either postponed, cancelled or dramatically scaled down. Restaurants cannot accept group bookings for more than 10 people.
However larger gatherings of people will be allowed at bigger venues such as restaurants, cinemas and sports stadiums, as long as people are sitting apart from each other.
The restrictions will be reviewed after two weeks. If case numbers remain low, the limits could be lifted, possibly using the Australian system which moved from 10, to 20, to 50, then up to 100 people (which remains the maximum under level 2).
Exercise, sport and recreation
Most activities will be allowed again including walking, biking and hunting on public conservation land, swimming at a public swimming pool and going to the gym (with some restrictions), boating and motorised watersports and hunting during duck shooting season (start date to be announced).
Contact sports such as rugby are allowed, but only if good contact tracing is maintained for training and games. Sports which allow physical distancing, such as tennis, should keep the 2m distancing rule.
NZ Super Rugby and ANZ Premiership Netball professional leagues will go ahead with separated crowds and broadcast on TV.
Schools and universities
From Monday, May 18, early learning services, schools and tertiary education facilities will be open. A positive case in a school will mean that that school will close for 72 hours to enable contact tracing, and possibly for 14 days if required.
All early learning centres and schools will be physically open including years 11 to 13. Distance learning will be available for those unable to attend school, for example where people are self-isolating.
Physical distancing rules will not be applied in early learning services and schools but will be encouraged as appropriate at tertiary level.
The Government is looking to enable international students to return to New Zealand if they can be quarantined safely.
Hospitality and retail
Restaurants and cafes can open from Thursday, May 14 but bars cannot open until the following Thursday, May 21. The definition of a bar is based on Easter trading laws, so pubs that provide meals can open from this Thursday.
Under ‘the three S’s’, the hospitality industry must ensure that all customers have seats, can be separated safely from others and that every table has a single server.
Customers must not go to the counter to pay after a meal at their local restaurant. Payment should be taken at the table.
Larger retailers and malls will have to follow supermarkets by limiting the number of people allowed in to enable enough space for physical distancing.
Travel
You can travel around the country but must keep records of what travel services you use and who you have been in contact with. Keep your distance from groups of people you don’t know. You should minimise the number of places you stop on the way to your destination.
You must not travel to events which do not meet the requirements for gatherings at alert level 2.
Try to limit taking public transport, or use it at off-peak times. Avoid sitting or standing next to someone you don’t know.