Support Is Available: COVID-19 Information And Help For Your Business

With the impacts of Coronavirus being felt by businesses all over the country, we want to make sure all businesses have access to the right information. We've collated the top resources on this page and will be updating it as new information is available. (Last updated 30 April 2020)

What Covid-19 Alert Level 3 means for Dominion Rd businesses 

Now that we are at Alert Level 3 businesses can open but only if the services they provide can be done without face to face contact with customers.  You may use this week now to prepare your business to operate under Alert Level 3.  If you are working with staff in your business premises, you must observe the 2 metre distancing rule at all times and maintain good hygiene practices.

From Tuesday at Alert Level 3:

• you can sell prepared food and non-alcoholic beverages by contactless delivery and collection (including drive-through). 
• you can sell any goods to customers by phone/online order and contactless delivery or collection.
• you cannot open your physical retail storefront to customers unless you are a supermarket, dairy or petrol station.

The decision on whether to move New Zealand’s alert level down to level 2 will be made on Monday 11^th May and we will provide a further update that week.

Business.govt.nz have put together guidance providing high-level details on what workplace activities are permitted at different alert levels.

Click on the below links for further information about:

• Guidelines for all businesses
• Questions and answers for all businesses
• Questions and answers for retail and hospitality
• Questions and answers for services
• Questions and answers for employment matters
• How the guidance can be applied in different workplaces
• Workplace premises only accessed by staff
• Workplace premises accessed by the public or customers
• Workers going to customers or a third party premises
• Workplaces with no premises

Where to find help and information

• Businesses classified as 'essential services' are the only businesses that are allowed to stay open during the four-week COVID-19 lockdown period. If you are uncertain whether your business is an essential service, the Government has outlined this information here. For any enquiries contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

• The COVID-19 website has everything you need to know about COVID-19 including information about support for business. Visit the website here. 

• Call the EMA Advice Line on 0800 300 362 for free advice on employment relations and HR matters.

• Call the Business NZ helpline 0800 543 543 for advice on contractual and financial matters 

• The Government has announced an Economic Recovery Package which includes a wage subsidy and leave payments to support businesses – find out more here.

• The Ministry of Social Development has hardship grants for businesses and individuals affected by the virus - find out more here. 
  ​And here are some printable fact sheets with key information:

  • Information about financial assistance for essential costs

  • Redundancy information for employers

• The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has created a centralised online portal of government information relating to coronavirus and how it may affect your business including information on:Hospitality NZ have guidelines for hospitality businesses https://hospitality.org.nz/news/covid-venue-guidelines 

  • tax obligations

  • travel

  • health and safety

  • education

  • exporting and importing

  • advice for employers

• The Ministry of Health is monitoring the situatation closely - find their latest updates here.

  If you feel unwell or require COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS.

• Banking - Some banks have offered support such as an overdraft facility, suspension of principal loan payments for up to three months, and deferred payment on business credit cards for up to three months. 

  Find out more about how the banking sector is responding here.