Businesses and workplaces at Red

Businesses and workplaces can open at Red. Some workers may need to be vaccinated.

More information for businesses More information for the primary sector

Key points

Visiting a business

My Vaccine Pass requirements have been removed, but businesses can choose to continue to follow them. If you enter a business that is still following the requirements as a visitor or customer, you may be asked to show your My Vaccine Pass.

Businesses may check your My Vaccine Pass, either by looking at it, or scanning it with the NZ Pass Verifier app.

Children under 12 years and 3 months can enter businesses without a My Vaccine Pass.

Working at a business

Workplaces can open at Red.

To slow the spread of the disease, we also encourage those who can, to work from home. Working from home is not practical for everyone, but if it is a practical option for you, we are encouraging you to do so.

Vaccination status for workers

Some workplaces may be covered by vaccine mandates. This means workers in businesses covered by the mandate must be vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccinations and work

If you run a business

Get your work ready for COVID-19

If you are a business owner or manager, you should have a plan in place to protect your workers and customers if there is a positive case of COVID-19 in your workplace.

Use the step-by-step guide on business.govt.nz to develop a plan.

Managing the impact of COVID-19 cases at your business | business.govt.nz (external link)

Close contact exemption scheme for critical workers

During the Omicron response, workers who at registered critical services who are a Household Contact may continue to work. They must be fully vaccinated and have no COVID-19 symptoms.

More information about critical workers

Face masks at Red

We encourage you to wear a face mask whenever you leave the house.

You must wear a face mask:

  • on domestic flights
  • on public transport, this includes Cook Strait Ferries but does not include passengers within their allocated carriage on specified Kiwirail services
  • at indoor arrival and departure points for domestic flights and public transport
  • if you are aged 8 years or over or are a student who is in Year 4 or above on public transport and Ministry of Education funded school transport
  • in taxis or ride share vehicles
  • inside a retail business, for example supermarkets, shopping malls, pharmacies, petrol stations, and takeaway food stores
  • inside public venues or facilities, such as museums and libraries, but not at swimming pools
  • at a vet clinic
  • in an indoor setting at schools, for example classrooms and assemblies. This includes visitors, workers, and students and teachers in Years 4 to 13
  • inside at tertiary education facilities
  • when visiting a licensed early childhood service
  • at food and drink businesses, for example cafes, bars and restaurants — if you are seated indoors. You can take your mask off when seated and to eat and drink
  • at close-proximity businesses, for example hairdressers, barbers, beauty salons
  • at an indoor event
  • at an indoor gathering, except when you have exclusive use of the venue or defined space
  • when visiting the indoor area of a court or tribunal — unless the judicial officer does not require them
  • at premises operated by local and central government agencies, social service providers, and NZ Police
  • in the public area of premises operated by NZ Post Limited
  • when visiting a health care service, for example a healthcare or aged care facility.

Face masks at work

Keep up healthy habits to protect us

Even though we are a highly vaccinated country, COVID-19 can still spread in our communities. Slow the spread of the virus by keeping up healthy habits.

Keep up healthy habits

More information for businesses

Businesses can find more detailed information on business.govt.nz:

COVID-19 Protection Framework | business.govt.nz (external link)

Business support during COVID-19 is available from Work and Income.

COVID-19 support for employers | workandincome.govt.nz (external link)

If your workplace is in the primary sector, the Ministry for Primary Industries also has information.

Operating under the COVID-19 Protection Framework | mpi.govt.nz (external link)

Social service providers can find more information from the Ministry of Social Development.

COVID-19 Protection Framework guidance for social service providers | msd.govt.nz (external link)

Display posters to let everyone know what My Vaccine Pass requirements are in place at your business.

Download My Vaccine Pass posters

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