History of the COVID-19 Alert System
About the COVID-19 Alert System
The Alert Levels are determined by the Government and specify the public health and social measures to be taken in the fight against COVID-19. You can find further guidance on this website (covid19.govt.nz).
The measures may be updated based on:
- new scientific knowledge about COVID-19
- information about the effectiveness of control measures in New Zealand and overseas, or
- the application of Alert Levels at different times, for example, the application may be different depending on if NZ is moving down or up Alert Levels).
Different parts of the country may be at different Alert Levels. We can move up and down Alert Levels.
Services including supermarkets, health services, emergency services, utilities and goods transport will continue to operate at any level. Employers in those sectors must continue to meet health and safety obligations.
Restrictions are cumulative, for example at Alert Level 4, all restrictions from Alert Levels 1, 2 and 3 apply.
Timeline of key events
28 February 2020
First COVID-19 case reported in New Zealand.
14 March 2020
The Government announces anyone entering New Zealand must self-isolate for 14 days, except those arriving from the Pacific.
19 March 2020
All indoor gatherings of more than 100 people are to be cancelled.
Borders close to all but New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.
21 March 2020
The Government introduces the 4-tiered Alert Level system to help combat COVID-19. The Prime Minister announces that New Zealand is at Alert Level 2.
23 March 2020
At 1:30pm the Prime Minister announces New Zealand has moved to Alert Level 3, effective immediately. In 48 hours, New Zealand will move to Alert Level 4.
25 March 2020
At 11:59pm, New Zealand moves to Alert Level 4, and the entire nation goes into self-isolation. A State of National Emergency is declared at 12:21pm.
29 March 2020
New Zealand reports its first COVID-19-related death.
31 March 2020
The State of National Emergency is extended at 9:27am. Further extensions are made at:
- 9:25am on 2 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 8 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 15 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 22 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 29 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 5 May 2020.
20 April 2020
The Prime Minister announces New Zealand will remain at Alert Level 4 for an additional 5 days. New Zealand will remain at Alert Level 3 for 2 weeks, before the status is reviewed.
27 April 2020
New Zealand moves to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm.
4 May 2020
No new cases of COVID-19 are reported in New Zealand.
11 May 2020
The Prime Minister outlines the plan to move to Alert Level 2.
13 May 2020
New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm. The State of National Emergency expires at 12:21pm.
8 June 2020
The Ministry of Health reports that there are no more active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. At 11:59pm, New Zealand moves to Alert Level 1.
11 August 2020
4 new cases of COVID-19 are recorded in the community.
12 August 2020
At 12 noon, Auckland region moves to Alert Level 3. The rest of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2.
14 August 2020
The Prime Minister announces that Auckland will remain at Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand will remain at Alert Level 2 for 12 more days.
30 August 2020
Auckland moves to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm, with extra restrictions on travel and gatherings. The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
21 September 2020
All regions except Auckland move to Alert Level 1 at 11:59pm.
23 September 2020
Auckland moves to Alert Level 2 without extra restrictions on travel and gatherings at 11:59pm.
7 October 2020
Auckland moves to Alert Level 1 at 11:59pm. All of New Zealand is now at Alert Level 1.
14 February 2021
3 new cases of COVID-19 are recorded in the community.
Auckland moves to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm. The rest of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 2.
17 February 2021
Auckland moves to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm. The rest of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 1.
22 February 2021
Auckland moves to Alert Level 1 at 11:59pm. All of New Zealand is now at Alert Level 1.
28 February 2021
Auckland moves to Alert Level 3 at 6am. The rest of New Zealand move to Alert Level 2.
7 March 2021
Auckland moves to Alert Level 2 at 6am. The rest of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 1.
12 March 2021
Auckland moves to Alert Level 1 at midday. All of New Zealand is now at Alert Level 1.
23 June 2021
Wellington moves to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm. The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 1.
29 June 2021
Wellington moves to Alert Level 1 at 11:59pm. All of New Zealand is now at Alert Level 1.
17 August 2021
All of New Zealand moves to Alert Level 4 at 11:59pm.
31 August 2021
All of New Zealand south of Auckland moves to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm.
Auckland and Northland remain at Alert Level 4.
2 September 2021
Northland moves to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm. All of New Zealand (except Auckland) is now at Alert Level 3.
Auckland remains at Alert Level 4.
7 September 2021
New Zealand (except Auckland) moves to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm.
Auckland remains at Alert Level 4.
21 September 2021
Auckland and Upper Hauraki move to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
25 September 2021
Upper Hauraki moves to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm.
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3. The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
3 October 2021
Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia, Hamilton City and some surrounding areas move to Alert Level 3 for 5 days from 11:59pm.
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3. The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
5 October 2021
Alert Level 3 restrictions in Auckland are eased from 11:59pm.
Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia, Hamilton City and some surrounding areas remain at Alert Level 3.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
7 October 2021
Waikato Alert Level 3 boundary is extended from 11:59pm to include Waitomo District, including Te Kuiti, Waipa District and Ōtorohanga District.
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3 with some restrictions eased.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
8 October 2021
Northland moves to Alert Level 3 at 11:59pm.
Auckland and parts of Waikato remain at Alert Level 3.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
19 October 2021
Northland moves to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm.
Auckland and parts of Waikato remain at Alert Level 3.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
27 October 2021
The parts of Waikato at Alert Level 3 move to Step 1 of Alert Level 3.
Auckland remains at Step 1 of Alert Level 3.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
2 November 2021
Upper Northland moves to Alert Level 3.
The parts of Waikato at Alert Level 3 Step 1 move to Alert Level 3 Step 2 from 11:59pm.
Auckland remains at Step 1 of Alert Level 3.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
9 November 2021
Auckland moves to Alert Level 3 Step 2 at 11:59pm.
Upper Northland remains at Alert Level 3.
Parts of Waikato remain at Alert Level 3 Step 1.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
11 November 2021
Upper Northland moves to Alert Level 2.
Auckland and parts of Waikato remain at Alert Level 3 Step 2.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
16 November 2021
Parts of Waikato move to Alert Level 2.
Auckland remains at Alert Level 3 Step 2.
The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.
2 December 2021
All of New Zealand moved to the COVID-19 Protection Framework, also known as the traffic lights, at 11:59pm on 2 December 2021.
This marks the end of COVID-19 Alert System.
State of National Emergency
A State of National Emergency was declared due to COVID-19. It was in force between 12:21pm on 25 March 2020 and 12:21pm on Wednesday 13 May 2020.
It covered all of New Zealand including the Chatham Islands, Stewart Island and other offshore islands.
The declaration was made by the Minister of Civil Defence Hon Peeni Henare in consultation with the Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern following advice from the Director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
The State of National Emergency was distinct from the COVID-19 Alert System.
Extensions to state of emergency
Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, a state of emergency expires 7 days after it’s declared unless it is terminated or extended.
The State of National Emergency was extended at:
- 9:27am on 31 March 2020
- 9:25am on 2 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 8 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 15 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 22 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 29 April 2020
- 12:21pm on 5 May 2020.
Last updated: at