Government measures in key jurisdictions 5th edition - Flipbook - Page 93
New Zealand
The Government has confirmed that if New Zealand experiences a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, a
new Wage Subsidy Scheme will be available if any part of the country moves to Alert Level 3 or
above for a week or more. To qualify, businesses and the self-employed will need to prove a 40%
decline in predicted or actual revenue.
In addition, a Resurgence Support Payment will be available if New Zealand is at Alert Level 2 or
above for a week or more. Businesses and the self-employed will be eligible if they have been in
business for at least six months and experience an actual decline in revenue of 30% over a 14-day
period. The decline in revenue must be as a result of the specific Alert Level escalation, not just
Covid-19 in general.
Businesses may only receive one Covid-19 subsidy at any one time per employee.
A Short-Term Absence Payment is available at all Alert Levels to employers to pay workers who
follow public health guidance and stay home while waiting for a Covid-19 test result. To be eligible,
workers need to miss at least one shift of work, and be unable to work from home.
The payment is $350 for each worker. Employers or the self-employed can apply for any worker
once in any 30-day period.
Similarly, if workers are required by a health official to self-isolate and cannot work from home, the
Covid-19 Leave Support Scheme provides a payment for two weeks (which can be reapplied for,
if required).
Businesses are not required to show an actual or predicted revenue drop or that their ability to
support an employee was negatively impacted by Covid-19, to be eligible to access the payment.
Most visitor visas due to expire between 4 September and the end of October 2020 have been
extended by five months from the expiry date of their current visa. After that time, the usual rules
relating to visas and the right to visit and work in New Zealand apply. Visa holders must leave New
Zealand when their visas expire. However, Immigration New Zealand has recently established a
Covid-19 short-term visitor visa.
Applicants must show they:
• hold a valid passport
• are of good character
• have a genuine reason for remaining in New Zealand
• cannot leave New Zealand now but will make plans to leave at the end of their stay.
Unlike other visas, applicants for a Covid-19 short-term visitor visa do not need to show they have:
• enough money to support their stay in New Zealand
• existing onward travel arrangements
• good health
• met any time-limits for how long they are able to stay in New Zealand on a visitor visa.
This visa will last for two months.
Emergency benefits may also be granted to people who need assistance but would not otherwise
qualify for them, including temporary visa holders. More details about the changes for visas are
available here.
Since the end of the Covid-19 Alert Level Four lockdown, the New Zealand Government has been
encouraging the rebuilding of various industries. Part of this has included an Immigration Border
Exemption to allow critical workers an exemption to the border closure.
There are various criteria depending on whether the role is short term or long term. To date it has
been used to bring to New Zealand key workers for major infrastructure projects, and also workers
on projects which aim to boost the New Zealand economy, such as film and television projects and
the America’s Cup.
Details about the border exemptions are available here.
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