May 26, 2021
All of New Zealand is at Alert Level 1. You are legally required to wear a face mask or covering on all public transport and flights throughout New Zealand.
The Government has created a new ‘very high risk country’ category that will reduce the risk of high numbers of infected people flying to New Zealand. See the Travel from very high risk countries for more information.
Separate quarantine-free travel arrangements are now in place with the Cook Islands and Australia. See Advice for travellers for more information.
Note that New Zealand’s quarantine-free travel with Victoria has been paused while the source of infection of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne is investigated. The pause came into force at 7:59pm NZT 25 May 2021 and will be in place until 7:59pm on Friday, 4 June 2021. A Section 70 has been issued for those visiting greater Melbourne between 20-25 May. Find out more at COVID-19: Epidemic notice and orders. Pre-departure testing has been introduced as an added precautionary step for anyone who has been in Victoria in the days prior to the QFT pause (25 May). Note that travellers must be able to provide a valid testing report at check-in. Find out more at quarantine-free travel.
Please stay up to date with latest news and advice from the government on either the Ministry of Health or Unite Against COVID-19 websites.
We advise members to continue to be vigilant. You / your pupils should stay at home if you are sick – the risk of COVID-19 being spread in the community is much greater when there are no restrictions on gatherings or going out.
All members need to be ready to move to a different alert level at short notice and to reactivate online teaching where required.
Everyone in New Zealand should be using the NZ COVID Tracer app even under Level 1 – if you have scanned in at a location with someone who has COVID-19 you will be sent a notification through the app which is the quickest and easiest way to protect yourself and your family.
Anyone with cold or flu symptoms anywhere should get a test, and should STAY AT HOME until a negative test result is received.
Please see the full COVID-19 update at https://covid19.govt.nz/for latest information and details.
There are 2 new cases and a total of 17 active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand, with a total of 2,325 confirmed cases since COVID-19 appeared. There have been 26 deaths.
We urge members to continue to be vigilant, sign into places using the NZ COVID Tracer app or keep a manual record, and maintain good hygiene practices.
- All businesses and services (including music teachers with their own studios or those teaching pupils in their own homes) must display a NZ COVID Tracer QR code for their business at all entry points. It must be in either a prominent place or near main entrances. Get your QR poster here. You will also need to have a manual sign in register for those people without smart phones or those who choose not to use the tracer app. This is a mandatory requirement under all alert levels.
- The use of masks or face coverings is mandatory on public transport (including trains, buses and most ferries) and on domestic flights throughout New Zealand at all alert levels.
- Taxi and share ride drivers throughout New Zealand are legally required to wear face coverings at all levels (passengers are strongly encouraged also to wear face coverings)
A reminder of the alert levels and what they mean can be found here.
Ministry of Health Covid-19 current cases website
World Health Organisation Covid-19 website