What does life at orange mean?
‘‘Orange you glad we will all be able to get together again?’’
But there is a lot more to the orange setting than bad puns that will make you smile behind your mask (if you are in a place where you still have to wear it).
The entire country has now moved into the orange traffic light setting, with the change taking effect from 11.59pm on Wednesday.
However, there will be plenty of confusion for a while as to where, when and in what circumstances certain rules apply.
This list of rules should help clarify things.
THE BASICS
There is no limit for outdoor or indoor gatherings. Regardless of whether they have vaccine passes, crowds can gather at whatever size, indoors and outdoors. No requirement to scan in or, for a business, to display a QR code poster or have mandatory record keeping. You do not need to wear a face mask outdoors. Other face mask rules, however, remain unchanged; you will have to wear them indoors, just like at red, but not everywhere.
EDUCATION
All playgroups, early learning centres, schools and kura can open and children do not need to be vaccinated to attend. Face masks are encouraged, but not absolutely required, when inside at school. Student accommodation, such as boarding schools, can open. You don’t need to wear masks when at special interest education, such as music lessons, art groups and girl guides – although it is encouraged.
HOSPITALITY
Hospitality venues can open. You won’t need a My Vaccine Pass to get in. You do not need to wear a face mask at indoor or outdoor hospitality venues. BUT publicfacing workers at indoor hospitality venues will still have to wear face masks.
TRANSPORT
You still have to wear face masks when you ride on public transport or taxi and ride-share services. Some transport providers – such as Air New Zealand and Cook Strait ferry operators – may require you to show a My Vaccine Pass or a negative Covid-19 test result before boarding if you are aged 12 years and 3 months or above. Before you travel, make sure you check the requirements with your transport provider.
SHOPPING
You must still wear a face mask when inside a shop, indoors. Some retail businesses can choose to follow My Vaccine Pass requirements. They can require you to show your My Vaccine Pass to enter the shop. It is their choice. There is no limit to the number of people you can have inside barbers and hairdressers, beauty salons, massage therapists and suchlike.
GATHERINGS
Weddings and civil union ceremonies, faith-based gatherings, funerals and tangihanga, club functions, community fairs and social sports can all go ahead with no limit on numbers. You do not need to wear a face mask at a gathering but it is encouraged. BUT workers and volunteers at gatherings must wear face masks – unless they have a special exemption.
EVENTS
Don’t confuse events with gatherings. Events control access by using tickets, registration, a fee or another way of controlling entry. For example, a ticketed concert held at a place of worship is an event. You do not need to wear a face mask at an event, either indoors or outdoors. This is unless the venue is an indoor public facility – then you have to wear a mask, but not if it is a swimming pool.