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Advice for members on the coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19

posted on

updated 13 April 2022

Please note this page has been retired. For up to date information on Covid-19 for hospitality, go to the Covid19 Hospitality Hub.

Traffic light levels 2022

  • Since 11.59pm, 13 April, 2022 all regions in New Zealand are in ORANGE.

Find out the alert level for your region here.


Click here to view our Covid-19 templates & guides

Access a range of posters for business from the Covid-19 website

Our latest news section also includes updates on Covid-19



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In January 2020, Chinese authorities confirmed a new type of coronavirus, known as COVID-19. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, which is a global pandemic affecting millions.

The outbreak has caused significant ongoing challenges and hardship for our members and our aim is to update and provide information and support to members. This support package of information provides some general guidance, however, members can also contact our Helpline on 0800 737 827 with specific questions.

The Government website for COVID-19 recovery is https://covid19.govt.nz/.


Covid-19 Alert System & Covid-19 Protection Framework

New Zealand has a traffic light COVID-19 alert system that specifies public health and social measures to be taken against COVID-19.


Government economic response package

Over the period of the Covid-19 crisis, the New Zealand Government has released an economic response package to help support the economy during the COVID-19 crisis and in recovery.

Resurgence Support Payment

Information on the Resurgence Support Payment can be found here.

Wage Subsidy and Leave schemes

Wage Subsidy Schemes

The current Wage Subsidy Scheme will be in place if there is an escalation to Alert Levels 3 or 4 anywhere in New Zealand, for 7 days or more.

Information on Wage Subsidy can be found here.

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme provides a payment to businesses to pay their workers who need to take leave due to COVID-19 public health guidance. It’s paid as a lump sum and covers 2 weeks per eligible employee. It’s paid at a flat rate of:

  • $600/week for people who were working 20 hours or more per week (full-time rate)
  • $359/week for people who were working less than 20 hours per week (part-time rate).

The Leave Support Scheme is for employees and self-employed people who meet certain health criteria (for example workers who are sick with COVID-19 or meet the other eligibility criteria).COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

COVID-19 Short-term Absence Payment

The COVID-19 Short-term Absence Payment is available to help businesses keep paying eligible workers who:

  • cannot work from home and
  • need to miss work to stay at home while waiting on a COVID-19 test result (in line with public health guidance).

There’s a one-off payment of $359 for each eligible worker.

Parents or caregivers who need to miss work to support their dependents who are staying at home awaiting a test result will also be eligible. COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment

Business Finance Guarantee Scheme

Small and medium-sized businesses may be eligible for the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme to protect jobs and support the economy to recover. Participating approved banks will provide targeted new loans or increase limits to existing loans for eligible businesses, to help them recover. Information about the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme(external link)

Business cash flow and tax measures

Inland Revenue has information on a range of measures to help businesses as they recover. These include:

  • greater flexibility for taxpayers in respect of statutory tax deadlines
  • changes to the tax loss continuity rules
  • a tax loss carry-back scheme
  • measures to support commercial tenants and landlords
  • further business consultancy support.

Business cash flow and tax relief measures(external link)

Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme

Inland Revenue will provide interest-free loans for a year to small businesses as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19. 

The Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme will provide assistance of up to $100,000 to firms employing 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.

Loans will be interest-free if they’re paid back within a year. The interest rate will be 3% for a maximum term of five years. Repayments are not required for the first two years.

Apply for the Small Business Cash Flow Loan(external link)

Insolvency relief for businesses

The Companies Office offers relief for companies and other entities facing difficulties in complying with their statutory obligations, or obligations under their constitutions or rules, as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Business Debt Hibernation scheme allows businesses to place their existing debts on hold for up to seven months to help them start trading normally again. 

Company directors facing significant liquidity problems can also seek a safe harbour from sections 135 and 136 of the Companies Act 1993.

Information on how you can access the insolvency relief and the requirements that you’ll need to meet is available on the Companies Office website.

More information about insolvency relief for businesses(external link)

Financial support tool

You can use the financial support tool to find out what financial help may be available to you.

The tool will take you, step by step, through a series of questions to find out your personal circumstances:

  • your work status, for example, employer
  • your situation, for example, business is unable to operate
  • whether your workplace has reduced business.

The tool will then tell you what financial help and support you could access, and where you can apply or find more information.

Financial support tool


Other support for employers:

There is a range of support available for businesses. Here are some useful links:
 
Govt.nz/covid19      
MSD
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
Ministry of Health

MSD may be able to help in other ways. There are various ways they can help, whether you’re an individual or an employer.

MSD can: 

  • meet with you to talk about your situation,
  • discuss ways to help you retain your staff,
  • co-ordinate with other agencies, eg. Inland Revenue or Careers New Zealand,
  • meet with your employees to talk about what support is available (either one-on-one or group sessions),
  • help your employees with:
    • finding another job 
    • re-training
    • skills assessment
    • financial support. 

MSD have also set up rapid response teams in various regions, and have a fact sheet which includes Labour Market Managers contact information. Please let us know if you need help contacting MSD, call us on 0800 737 827.


Government response / travel restrictions

In response to growing concerns about the spread of the virus, the New Zealand Government closed New Zealand borders. Since 11.59pm 19 March 2020, only New Zealand residents and citizens (and their children and partners) have been permitted to enter New Zealand. Strict border restrictions remain in place.

This includes the Realm countries, Australian citizens and permanent residents ordinarily resident in New Zealand, airline and marine crew.

There will be some exceptions, on a case by case basis, for example for essential health workers, humanitarian reasons, and others. Find out more here.

Since 9th April 2020 the requirement for 14 days of quarantine or managed self-isolation in a government-approved facility, is a prerequisite for anyone entering the country.

All New Zealanders who were traveling overseas have been encouraged to return to New Zealand. As international air travel is currently at significantly reduced levels, and as most other countries have border restrictions on foreign nationals entering the country, it is now both very difficult to travel, or return to New Zealand. For information on COVID-19 related border restrictions, please check the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website


General health advice

The Ministry of Health website is your best source of health information about the Coronavirus: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

The website includes information on:

For any coronavirus health advice and information and any questions you have about coronavirus, the Ministry of Health has established a dedicated 0800 Healthline number for health advice and information. The number is 0800 358 5453 – it is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What are the signs and symptoms of COVID-19? Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to a range of other illnesses such as influenza and do not necessarily mean that you have COVID-19. Symptoms include:

  • fever
  • coughing
  • difficulty breathing.

Difficulty breathing is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention.

If you have these symptoms and have recently travelled to any country, or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19, please contact Healthline (for free) on 0800 358 5453 (or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs), or your doctor immediately.

How does COVID-19 spread? Like the flu, COVID-19 can be transmitted from person to person. The scientific evidence confirms that COVID-19 is spread by droplets. This means that when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, they may generate droplets containing the virus. These droplets are too large to stay in the air for long, so they quickly settle on surrounding surfaces.

Droplet-spread diseases can be spread by:

  • coughing and sneezing
  • close personal contact
  • contact with an object or surface with viral particles on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

That’s why it’s really important to practice good hygiene, regularly wash and thoroughly dry your hands and practice good cough etiquette.

How do I protect myself and others from COVID-19? You should always practice good hygiene by:

  • covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues
  • washing hands for at least 20 seconds with water and soap and drying them thoroughly:
    • before eating or handling food
    • after using the toilet
    • after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose or wiping children’s noses
    • after caring for sick people.

People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice good cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues, and wash hands). If you have concerns, you can contact the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453.

Additional up-to-date information is also available from the World Health Organization (WHO): 


Business continuity support

Our mobilisation following Covid-19 to help members has included:

Ongoing Public Advocacy

  • Minister briefings – we are have been in continual contact with Government, frequently meeting with Ministers, MP’s and Government officials to voice our industry’s challenges and inform at the highest levels of the Government.
  • Treasury briefing – the Association and members of our Hospitality Taskforce met with Treasury in September 2020 to inform the Government on the current challenges for our industry and propose key solutions to assist.
  • Steering group representation – through representation on several key steering groups, including the MSD Business Leaders Group, we are helping to advise on the industry’s needs.
  • Epidemic Response Committee – in April, CEO, Marisa Bidois, presented to Parliament’s Epidemic Response Committee, outlining the current issues facing the sector, calling for immediate financial assistance and providing recommendations for the government to adopt in the coming weeks.
  • Lobbying – the Restaurant Association has been vocal, calling for support for hospitality businesses devastatingly affected by Covid-19. Our key messages have included:
  • A call for Government to provide relief for business in the form of a business continuity package, business hardship grant.
  • Requests to extend the wage subsidy scheme.
  • A request to remove GST on fruit and vegetables for a period of time.
  • Urgent action requested on leases and rent relief for small businesses
  • Advocating for food businesses to be able to continue to operate in Level 4 for contactless food delivery to help with the overloaded essential services provided by the supermarkets
  • Temporary variation to alcohol licences request, to allow businesses with on-licences to have off-licence sales with food delivery
  • Call to cap third party delivery party commission rates.
  • A petition delivered to Parliament calling for Government to support the industry and the dining public through a subsidised dining scheme, Dine Out to Help Out.

Industry voice

  • Media coverage – we have been speaking to the media every day on the needs and challenges of our industry. Since February the Restaurant Association has appeared in over 1500 articles and news items.
  • CEO, Marisa Bidois has conducted more than 600 interviews for radio and TV and has also featured on facebook and Instagram live sessions.

Restaurant Association hospitality recovery taskforce

  • The Restaurant Association Hospitality Recovery taskforce formed in June 2020 brings together leaders in the industry to help formulate a direct response to the current crisis, helping to rebuild a strong and resilient industry.

Increased on the ground support

  • Legal and business advice – the Restaurant Association’s 24 hour/7-day helpline has undoubtedly been the biggest source of ongoing hospitality-specific support in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing an increase in demand of up to 500% in some periods of the emergency. Additional Restaurant Association membership services include legal support, human resources, payroll, business mentoring and marketing advice.
  • Access to on-the-ground support – to ensure our member businesses who indicated they were struggling, could get in-house support as soon as possible we increased the mobilisation of our ground support staff – initially on the road, but through remote assistance once lockdown started.
  • Emergency memberships – the Association instigated the roll-out of emergency Restaurant Association memberships for member businesses that are severely impacted by COVID-19.

Industry insights and research

  • Covid-19 survey series – since February, the Restaurant Association has been gauging industry sentiment and the challenges members are facing through our series of Covid-19 member surveys. These surveys provide a direction from the industry, helping us to identify the industry’s immediate needs and the development of new resources and support material. Member feedback also provides us with clear direction in our discussions with the media and the Government, strengthening our ability to advocate for the best outcomes for our members.
  • Regional MeetMe / member briefings have been held throughout the lockdown as an opportunity for the industry to connect with others, discuss the regional challenges and help to plan for the future.

Training & Webinar series

  • Lockdown online training academy – over the lockdown period and into Level 3 and 2, the Restaurant Association has been offering free online learning. We have featured both local and international experts from the industry.
  • Leveling up your Service – this 2 week online training series included topics like dealing with tricky customers, service training basics, maintaining calm in a busy section and wine list secrets from a Sommelier, through to creating an excellent guest experience.
  • Covid-19 webinar updates – our weekly Covid-19 Updates provide essential information on the current operating environment with guest speakers from MSD, Immigration NZ, IRD, MBIE, MPI, Mental Health Foundation and the Restaurant Association’s helpline.

Information support

  • Covid-19 support package – a dedicated online resource bringing together key information for members, the Covid-19 support package has essential up-to-date guidance on navigating through Covid-19.
  • Member resources – over 40 new resources – essential guides, signs and templates to help members to manage their businesses and their employees throughout this time, located here.
  • Daily e-updates – provided throughout the Covid-19 emergency, daily Covid-19 member e-updates keep members informed.
  • Operating guidelines – the Worksafe–endorsed Restaurant Association Operating guidelines for Hospitality businesses at Level 3, and Level 2 guidelines were created through collaboration with key industry stakeholders and Government agencies.
  • FaQ’s – an online portal houses weekly FaQ’s in topic areas that include, the wage subsidy, tax, immigration, rent / landlord discussions, employment and more.

Member Marketing

  • #DineoutTakeout campaign – launched at Level 3 for #takeoutnz, and continued into Level 2, the #DineoutTakeoutnz marketing campaign encourages the public to eat local and continue to support their local hospitality businesses. Go to www.dineouttakeout.co.nz for more information.
  • Dinefind – relaunched during lockdown, this dining directory website, www.dinefind.co.nz,  exclusively promotes member businesses.
  • #DineOutHelpOut – a petition delivered to Parliament advocating for Government to support a subsidised dining scheme. We are continuing to advocate for this scheme to be adopted.

Other business considerations:

Banks: Get in contact with your bank if you’re experiencing cash flow issues, especially in regards to loans repayments or lack of funding. They might be able to help or put you in touch with someone who can.

Mortgage Holiday Repayment Scheme: Retail banks have agreed to a mortgage holiday repayment scheme for those affected by Covid-19. The six-month principal and interest payment holiday for mortgage holders and small business customers whose incomes have been affected by the economic disruption from Covid-19 is available now. Talk to your bank for more information.

Westpac support for coronavirus affected customers: ​​Westpac NZ is offering support to customers financially affected by the global outbreak of coronavirus. The relief package features a range of possible support options for both business and personal customers. These may include:

  • deferring capital repayments on business loans (interest only) for 3 months
  • temporary overdrafts to address immediate cash flow issues and
  • deferred payment of business Credit cards to assist businesses. (COVID-19 Policy)

In addition to the above, Customers experiencing loss of income, reduced income or illness as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic are able to apply for a (Choices) home loan or personal loan repayment deferral for six months.

Customers requiring access to term deposit funds should also get in touch to discuss options.

As part of the Government’s Business Finance Guarantee Scheme, Westpac is offering Business Support Loans (BSL’s). Key details about Westpac’s BSL’s to be aware of:

  • Business Support Loans are available to existing customers only
  • Customers must have an annual turnover $250,000 – $80,000,000
  • Customers can register to apply for a loan under the scheme from tomorrow – eligibility, and terms and conditions will apply. Details can be found here
  • Registrations will be subject to a credit approval process

Anyone who has been affected should call Westpac on 0800 606 606 to discuss their individual needs. Small Business Customers can check their eligibility and complete a registration form for the Business Support Loan on Westpac’s website here.

Insurance: Unfortunately standard business insurance offered by local and offshore insurers usually have a specific policy exclusion called “Infectious / Contagious Disease” which means that any loss or damage or business interruption loss in connection with a notifiable infectious disease is specifically not covered.  Some exceptions include travel insurance where the policy was in place prior to public notification. Check with your insurer if you need clarification.

IRD: Tax relief and income assistance is available to people affected by the downturn in business due to the Coronavirus COVID-19. There are a range of ways the IRD can help, depending on your circumstances. You may be able to make an estimate or re-estimate of provisional tax or if you’re having difficulty paying outstanding tax, you may be able to set up an installment arrangement. Find out more here.

Worksafe: Advice on workplace readiness for novel coronavirus is available on the Worksafe website: https://worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/work-related-health/workplace-preparedness-for-novel-coronavirus/

WorkSafe expectations about COVID-19: The emergence of COVID-19 across the globe has created a new work health and safety risk that businesses need to manage. Worksafe expect all businesses to:

  • follow the latest Ministry of Health advice about preventing COVID-19 and to promote good hygiene practices at work
  • identify and manage any emerging risks brought about by the COVID-19 situation. For example, changes in consumer demand may impact worker health and safety, and supply issues for worker personal protective equipment (PPE).

Worksafe also expect workers to take care of their own health and safety, and the health and safety of others, while at work. This means following and cooperating with any reasonable health and safety instructions, policies and procedures they’re given.

You can also view the Health & Safety section of this page for more information.


Idea hub:

Requiring hospitality businesses to close currently has created incredible challenges for the industry. At Level 1 or Level 2 alert, there are still some opportunities in the market and below we look at some of the ways you could instigate change and potentially tap into a new market of customers.

LEVEL 1, 2 or 3 opportunities:

Takeaway Options / Sidewalk pick-ups

Applies if New Zealand is at Alert Level 1-3 or below and must be contactless delivery or kerbside pick up at Level 3. If you’ve not had a takeout menu available before, this is potentially an opportunity. Think about what items in your menu could translate into a takeout menu, or you may need to think about adding new items specifically targeting this market. Customers still want to eat out but, enable them to take it away with them.

Restaurant businesses responding to these fears and restrictions are also implementing ‘kerb-side’ pick-up and/or drive-up options for takeaway orders. This encourages people to still head to their favourite local without the need to leave the perceived protection of their own surroundings, like their car, and limit their interactions with others.

Heat and Eat Meals

Applies if New Zealand is at Alert Level 1 or 2: Heat and eat meals could be a great way to reach those that are self-isolating, or those who don’t want to cook every night in an attempt to avoid public spaces or ‘unhealthy’ takeaway meals. This could be the start of a new venture or at least diversifying your business to help you through this disruptive period. In Seattle, fine dining restaurant, Canlis, did this, diversifying and creating three new dining options including a family meal service. In New Zealand, we are also seeing restaurants adapting for this market, including Auckland restaurant, Paris Butter, which is creating Paris Butter To Go meals – French classics to enjoy at home.

Delivery Services

Applies if New Zealand is at Alert Level 1-3: One of the first things that comes to mind when deciding how to respond for those that are avoiding being in public spaces, is delivery. If you are not already using a delivery service, consider whether you can redeploy existing staff temporarily to create your own delivery service. This will help to keep your staff busy even if your reservations are down. There are some steps to take to implement, but the Restaurant Association can provide guidance and has sample templates, for instance a vehicle policy template, that you can utilise.  Download the Restaurant Association Sample Motor Vehicle Policy here (This is a member-only resource, so login before you download)

It’s also not overly expensive to print removable decals, or magnetic signs, for cars and can be a cheap and new way to market your establishment.

Consider marketing options to generate demand initially, eg. free delivery over $X.

Implement a clear table policy

Applies if New Zealand is at Alert Level 1 or 2: Emphasize all that you are doing to ensure the health and safety of your customers and communicate this. Reduce the perception that items in your restaurant could have been exposed to viruses. Leave tables empty (no cutlery, serviettes, salt and pepper, etc.) till guests have sat down. Bring cutlery to the table with the meal. This shows customers the handling process of these items and removes some of the unknowns around whether they could have been contaminated by other guests.

Look at changing the layout of the room to remove some tables, or increase the distance between them, to show you’re adapting to allow for social distancing.

Specials for those who dine in

Applies if New Zealand is at Alert Level 1 or 2: Promote dining in specials to encourage people to come in, increase awareness of your off-peak dining times to encourage customer to break out and dine in. Work with your suppliers to create special offers and add-on’s for diners.

Increase your digital presence

Many initiatives rely on social channels to help spread the word. If you are not already an expert in this space, now is the time to increase your online marketing. Tempt all those staying at home scrolling on their social feeds with irresistible pics of your dishes and menus. Promote your delivery or takeaway service. While you are closed, use your database of previous customers to remind them of your restaurant and their past enjoyment.

E-Vouchers

Offer customers the opportunity to purchase digital gift vouchers, this will get you cash in the bank and see customers returning in the future. Vouchers are a great gift idea, so there are still opportunities for voucher sales even when the number of people dining out is currently reduced.

Invite ideas

Involve your team members as they may have some great ideas as well. You could also talk to other businesses and see if there are any opportunities to collaborate with them on initiatives. At times like these all ideas are worth considering, and someone might have a little gem of an idea they just need a little bit of encouragement to voice. Consider upcoming dates like Mother’s Day – is there anything that your business can do this year, so that people can still celebrate occasions in this different world?


Employment advice:

Unfortunately, the legal and practical issues associated with coronavirus and employment are not straightforward. We are in an unprecedented environment but good faith still applies.

Below are some of the resources you will need at the different Alert Levels. 

Key resources are located on the Resources section of the website, here. (these are member-only resources, so login before clicking on the links)

Other key considerations:

  • Keeping talking to staff and provide information if they request it.
  • Stay in touch with employees over the period of the lockdown.
  • Make sure that there is a clear point of contact within the business for employees to address queries
  • Record any agreements made with employees in writing

Questions regarding the wage subsidy: Many questions to the Helpline currently are around the Wage Subsidy scheme and this guideline answers many of those questions: Employer Obligations for Payments and Template letter to use for Employees. Further information is also available on our FaQ’s page and on the Work and Income Covid-19 Employer Support page here.

What if I need to look at restructuring my business? The Restaurant Association Helpline team can provide information and guidance on restructuring situations and have prepared a package of information, including a guide and accompanying templates. Download the Restaurant Association restructure pack here (this is a member-only resource, so ensure you login to the website first).

Please remember that the Restaurant Association is here to support you and your business as well. This includes the Helpline advice, as well as business mentoring and marketing advice.

Members are encouraged to call the Restaurant Association Helpline on 0800 737 827 for advice on managing the current situation, or planning for the future, in your business.


Food Safety advice

The following information provides useful background to managing food safety around the COVID-19 outbreak.

New Zealand Food Safety, in conjunction with the wider Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry of Health and international organisations, is closely monitoring developments around the COVID-19 outbreak. For information and updates about food safety and 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19), and New Zealand Food Safety’s guidance for food handlers and food businesses, visit www.mpi.govt.nz/coronavirus-and-food-safety/.

Can the virus be transmitted through food? Experience with recent acute respiratory diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) suggests that people are unlikely to be infected with the virus through food. There isn’t evidence to date of this happening with the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Coronaviruses cannot grow in food – they need a host (animal or human) to grow in. Cooking for at least 30 minutes at 60°C kills SARS, which is a similar coronavirus.

Coronaviruses are most commonly passed between animals and people and from person-to-person contact.

The source of the COVID-19 virus is believed to be animals, but the exact source is not yet known.

The virus is commonly transmitted through direct mucous membrane contact by infectious droplets, e.g. breathing in airborne virus from the sneeze of someone who is infected, or through hand to mouth/nose contact after fingers have touched a contaminated surface.

Investigations in China are continuing to identify the source of the outbreak and ways it can be transmitted to people.

What can food handlers do? It is possible that infected food handlers could introduce the virus to the food they are in contact with by coughing and sneezing, or through hand contact. However, this is unlikely to occur if food handlers in food businesses and in the home follow standard, good personal hygiene practices that reduce the risk of transmission of most foodborne illnesses. These practices include:

  • proper hand hygiene
  • safe food practices
  • cough/cold hygiene practices
  • avoiding close contact, when possible, with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

Food handlers must wash hands (even if they have no disease symptoms):

  • before starting work
  • before handling cooked or ready-to-eat food
  • after handling or preparing raw food
  • after handling waste
  • after cleaning duties
  • after using the toilet
  • after blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing
  • after eating, drinking, or smoking
  • after handling money.

Good hygiene and cleaning will also prevent cross-contamination between raw or undercooked foods and cooked or ready-to-eat foods in the kitchen or service area.

It is important that food handlers inform their employer, avoid preparing food for other people, and seek medical advice if they think they have symptoms of respiratory illness.

Employers may ask staff to stay home until after medical advice is given. Similarly, if staff have been overseas to affected regions or in contact with persons who have, they should inform their employer and seek appropriate medical advice.

What can food business owners/managers do? It is unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food, and there isn’t evidence to date of this happening. Usual good hygienic manufacturing practices and thorough cooking for cooked products will minimise the risk of transmission for any foodborne illness.

Employers still have an important role to play in preventing foodborne illness. They should:

  • ensure staff are aware of the COVID-19 issue
  • stay informed of staff who have been overseas to affected regions or in contact with persons who have, and seek appropriate medical advice
  • ensure that food handlers are trained appropriately in food hygiene practices appropriate to their premises
  • ensure effective supervision of food handlers to reinforce hygienic practices
  • ensure that appropriate facilities are provided for hand washing or sanitation (e.g. alcohol gels/wipes) to enable food handlers to practice good hygiene
  • ensure that food handlers and external contractors are aware that they must report any signs/symptoms of respiratory illness before or during work
  • keep vigilant and ensure that food handlers and other staff are not ill and are fit to work
  • ensure that staff with symptoms stay home until medical advice is obtained
  • fully support staff through access to medical advice and during convalescence.

Health & Safety advice

You should self-assess your ability to operate safely at different Alert Levels. Businesses are obliged to eliminate transmission risks where possible, and where not possible to eliminate, to substitute work practices or provide as higher level of control as possible to minimise risk.

Worksafe expect that businesses maintain, or create new, practices that meet or exceed the Ministry of Health guidelines as they are updated. This includes thinking about how you’re going to manage risks and protect workers and customers . You can document this thinking in a Covid-19 Safety Plan

You also need to discuss and share the plan with everyone at work – including workers, contractors, and suppliers – before the work starts.

The key controls that have been decided as necessary to minimise the risk of passing on the COVID-19 virus at work are:

  • supporting people with flu-like symptoms to self-isolate
  • ensuring separation distances
  • disinfecting surfaces
  • maintaining good hygiene, particularly hand hygiene and good cough/ sneeze etiquette
  • keeping records to facilitate contact tracing.

The purpose of planning is to ensure:

  • effective implementation of COVID-19 controls, and
  • the health and safety of workers and other people isn’t put at risk from changes that are made to work arrangements because of this pandemic.

Covid-19 Safety Plan Content

To ensure you are minimising the risk of COVID-19 appropriately, and that your business can continue to operate safely, you need to consider the following questions.  Your plan is a record of how you will achieve this.

  1. Are there any risks arising from restarting your business or a business activity that has been shut down during Alert Level 4, and how will you manage these?
  2. How will you ensure all workers know how and are able to keep themselves safe from exposure to COVID-19?
  3. How will you gather information on the wellness of your workers to ensure that they are safe and well to work?
  4. How will you operate your business in a way that keeps workers and others safe from exposure to COVID-19?
  5. How will you manage an exposure or suspected exposure to COVID-19?
  6. How will you evaluate, and continuously review, whether your work processes or risk controls are effective?
  7. How do any changes impact on the risks of the work you do?

More information and guidance on helping to answer the above questions, and a WorkSafe Template Covid-19 Safety Plan template can be found here:

https://worksafe.govt.nz/managing-health-and-safety/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/your-covid-19-safety-plan/


Numerous obligations are owed by a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), which includes an employer. This requires you to protect workers health, safety and welfare from hazards and risks that arise in their workplace.

Obligations, include, but are not limited to, PCBUs owing a duty of care to eliminate where possible, and if not minimise, risks to health and safety, so far as reasonably practicable, for workers that undertake work for the PCBU, where it is directed by the PCBU.

A worker is someone who does work, in any capacity, for a business. This includes someone who does work as:

  • An employee
  • A contractor or subcontractor, or someone employed by one
  • Someone employed by a labour hire company who is assigned to work in the business
  • An apprentice or trainee
  • An outworker
  • Someone getting work experience or doing a work trial
  • A volunteer worker

You need to manage the risks you create as part of the work of the PCBU. If you use a contractor, then you must consult, cooperate and coordinate activities and agree on who will take the lead on managing risks based on who has the ability to control and influence.

Duties can overlap in a shared workplace where more than one business and its workers control and influence the work on site. Example: A small coffee cart business operates inside a garden centre. Because the coffee cart operates on the same premises as the garden centre, the two businesses will have overlapping health and safety duties. Duties cannot be transferred from one person and/or business to another.

Duties can also overlap in a contracting chain, where contractors and subcontractors provide services to a head contractor or client and don’t necessarily share the same workplace.

The Restaurant Association helpline team has produced the following resources which are available for members (note these are member-only documents and you will need to be logged in to access). They will need to be updated as situations change and some of these health & safety resources will only be applicable again after the lockdown and businesses have reopened (eg the guidelines for customers and cleaning guideline):

Other resources available:

Practical member resources relating to the closedown:

Please note that our resources are templates only, and that you need to consider the individual requirements of your business, risks that are specific to your workplace, and eliminate these risks so far is reasonably practical. In the event that it is not reasonably practicable to do so, then the PCBU needs to minimise the risks so far as reasonably possible.

Posters and other assets, including social media images available on the Ministry of Health website here and the HPA website here.


Health & Wellbeing

This is continuing to be a very difficult time for many people and it is important that we all take note of our own health and wellbeing, as well as those of your staff. Many of us are feeling distressed and it is normal to experience symptoms of stress in this time. However, if over days and weeks your distress or stress symptoms are escalating or you feel you are not coping, help and professional support is available:

  • Restaurant Association members and your staff can access a professional service to help if they are experiencing personal or work-related difficulties. This service is provided by an independent company called EAP Services Limited, and their professionals are all qualified, registered and experienced EAP specialists. Find out more here.
  • The Restaurant Association has also created, in collaboration with the Mental Health Foundation, specific resources on mental health and wellbeing, which are available here. Resources available include:
  • Tip card: A How-To on having mental health conversations in your workplace
  • Why talk about mental health at work?     
  • How to have a conversation about mental health
  • Helplines and Local Mental Health Services
  • A Guide for Managers: Let’s make mental health part of the conversation
  • Frequently asked questions about mental health
  • Managing Employees’ Mental Health Issues
  • Incorporating Wellness into your Life in Hospitality
  • Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit
  • For support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can also call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counselor at the Mental Health Foundation, for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tips for managing your own mental wellbeing

  1. Spend time in places that feel safe and comfortable as much as possible.
  2. Tell yourself that how you are feeling is a normal reaction and will pass – it is nothing to be afraid of.
  3. Reach out to your usual supports – family and whānau, friends and workmates. Sharing how we feel and offering support to others is important.
  4. Keep to usual routines – mealtimes, bedtime, exercise and so on.
  5. Keep active – going to work, doing usual leisure activities and seeing friends can improve general wellbeing and help distract from distressing feelings.

Advice from Immigration New Zealand regarding visa applications:

Immigration New Zealand understand visa applicants and current visa holders may have some questions about their specific circumstances. Please click here for information and FaQ’s around work visas that may address your concerns.


This continues to be an evolving issue and it is not possible to predict what will happen in the coming months. We do not know how long the country will be at different Alert Levels, of if we will go back into one of the other Alert Levels or how long the disruption to international visitation is likely to last. We don’t know how long the recovery period might be but the Association is here to support you throughout.
 
Please stay in touch with the Association (0800 737 827, info@restaurantnz.co.nz) if you have concerns or questions regarding your business.

The Restaurant Association has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information materials contained on our website are true and correct at the time of publication. The information provided is general information only, and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Therefore, the Restaurant Association accepts no responsibility for any loss, errors or omissions which may arise pertaining to such reliance.

previous updates: 23 February, 2021, 17 February, 2021, 14 February 2021, 20 November, 2020, 12 October, 2020, 30 August, 25th August, 15th August, 11th August, 9th June, 29th May, 2020, 20th May, 15th May, 11th May, 6th May, 20th April, 16th April, 28 March, 26th March, 24th March, 23rd March, 21st March, 20th March, 19th March, 18th March, 17th March, 15th March, 12th March, 5th March, 4th March, 3rd March, 2nd March, 24th February, 17th February, 14th February, 12th February, 9th February, 4th February, 29th January

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