As of 6am Sunday 28 February, Auckland will move to Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand will move to Alert Level 2. The measures will remain in place for the next seven days. Here you can find the COVID-19 retail rules and guidelines.
Here’s what you need to know for COVID-19
- What current Alert Levels mean for your business
- Financial support for businesses impacted by COVID-19
- Frequently asked questions
- How can our business partners help?
- COVID-19 Equipment, Services and Support
The information on this webpage reflects the best information we have, and we will keep this page updated. (Last update 27 February 2021, 9.45pm).
LEVEL 3 Auckland region* (from 6am, Sunday 28 February) | LEVEL 2 Rest of New Zealand (from 6am, Sunday 28 February) |
Who can open? | |
Supermarkets, dairies, greengrocers, butchers, petrol stations and pharmacies can remain open and allow customers into their stores, under strict public health guidelines (see below). Other retailers cannot open to the public, however they can operate in a safe way (for example selling online for contactless click and collect, or for contactless delivery. | Retailers who can operate safely under strict public health guidelines can open to the public (see below). Hospitality business, including cafés, may only open to the public if groups are seated, separated, and use a single server if possible. Table service is also required, including for payment. Businesses that requires close personal contact (e.g. beauty services and hairdressers), must have a robust contract tracing system, maintain good hygiene practices and minimise contact to the extent possible. We recommend the use of masks in these businesses. |
Can employees come to work? | |
Workers must work from home if they can. If workers cannot work from home business operations must be undertaken safely following public health guidelines. | Workers can continue to go into workplaces. Workplaces must operate safely under public health guideline. |
Contact tracing | |
All businesses MUST display an official QR code poster wherever people enter your premises to support contact tracing with the NZ COVID Tracer app. Create your poster here. | All businesses MUST display an official QR code poster wherever people enter your premises to support contact tracing with the NZ COVID Tracer app. Create your poster here. Retail stores should have an alternative paper-based tracing system in place for those who don’t have the Contact Tracer App. Keep contact tracing records of anyone who will have close interactions for example workers or contractors. Hospitality businesses for dine-in customers, restaurants, cafes and bars must keep records of all customers and workers to enable contact tracing. |
Social distancing | |
Two metres outside the home. | Two metres between customers, and one metre between staff members. We suggest a maximum of one person per four square metres in store. Limit the number of people in your premises so distancing can be maintained. |
Face Masks | |
It is highly recommended that you wear a mask if you are out and about. You may want to provide personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks for employees. | You should wear face coverings in situations where physical distancing is not possible, like on public transport or in shops. |
Social groups and public venues | |
No more than 10 people in any social group or gathering. All public venues are closed. | No more than 100 people at public venues, gatherings, or events. Ensure records are kept for contact tracing purposes. |
Public health requirements | |
All workplaces must implement and maintain good hygiene practices including: – frequent handwashing, – use of hand sanitiser, – regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, – record who is working together and limit interaction between different groups of workers, – keep records to allow contact tracing, where required, – recommend that face masks to be worn if social distancing is not possible, – ask everyone, workers, contractors and customers, with cold or flu-like symptoms to stay away from your premises. |
*The Auckland region is everything in the Auckland Council boundary – from Wellsford in the north to Pukekohe in the south.
If you need advice, please get in touch with our Advice Service on 0800 472 472 (1800 128 086 from Australia). Or you can email us on [email protected].
Find the latest Government information about COVID-19 here.