• New Zealand Regions
      • Hawke's Bay
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Waikato
      • Whanganui
      • Manawatu
      • Northland
      • Auckland
      • Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Wellington
      • West Coast
      • Nelson
      • Canterbury
      • Otago
      • Marlborough
      • Southland
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      Hawke's Bay

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      Beaches, wineries and Art Deco. The Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy, including business services that support its sectors to be the second largest contributor to regional GDP in the country. A popular tourist destination, the region has some of the countries best restaurants as well as stunning scenery, markets and festivals.

      Districts

      HastingsNapier

      Bay of Plenty

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      The Bay of Plenty is officially New Zealand's sunniest destination, enjoying short-lived winters and long summer days. The Region offers some of the country's most spectacular views and many ways to enjoy the pristine scenery and natural wonders. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Bay's Māori heritage and pre-European roots.

      Districts

      OpotikiOpotiki iSiteKawerauWhakatane

      Waikato

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      The Waikato is known for its rolling plains, fertile land and the mighty Waikato River. The region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand, with a strong focus on primary production and associated manufacturing.

      Districts

      South WaikatoWaikato District

      Whanganui

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      Welcome to Whanganui. This is our place; where history is full of stories, legends and rich legacy. Where a thriving arts scene, creativity and evolving culture inspire our modern lives. Where breath-taking natural landscapes capture imaginations at every turn.

      Manawatu

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      Located in the lower North Island, Manawatu is heartland New Zealand, offering an authentic Kiwi experience.

      The main in the region are Palmerston North, most notable for Massey University. Palmerston has a vibrant, arts and culture scene.

      The region's economy is based on food production and processing, research and education. The region is also home for the New Zealand defence force.

      Northland

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      Northland was originally home to some of our country's first human inhabitants. Today, it is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand and home to nearly 189,000 people. Rich in culture and history, the region boasts a stunning natural environment.

      Auckland

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      Auckland Region stretches from the the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the expansive beaches of the rugged west coast of the Tasman Sea. Auckland City, the largest urban area in New Zealand is considered the main economic center of New Zealand and a popular destination for international students and travellers.

      Gisborne

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      Gisborne is a Region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's known for wineries and surf beaches such as Makorori. The region has maintained a strong Maori heritage. The region's economy is made up mainly of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      Taranaki

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      Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region on the western side of New Zealand's North Island. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

      The port city of New Plymouth is the area's cultural and commercial hub. Taranaki's economy is diverse and includes dairy, oil and gas. The region is the highest contributor or national GDP per capita. 

      Wellington

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      The Wellington Region covers Wellington city in the south, Upper and Lower Hutt valleys to the north-east, and Porirua to the north-west. The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

      Wellington is famous for its arts and culture scene and is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry.

      West Coast

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      The West Coast, or as some locals call it, the "Wild West", is a long thin region that runs down the South Island's west coast.

      The region has the lowest population in all of New Zealand. It is famous for its rugged natural scenery such as the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and the glaciers.

      The main industries in the region are dairy farming and mining. Tourism also plays an important role.

      Nelson – Tasman

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      Nelson Tasman is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape. With one in five people internationally born, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

      The region prides its self on being New Zealand’s leading Research and Development areas, with the highest proportion of people working in the research, science and tech sectors out of anywhere in New Zealand.

      Canterbury

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      Canterbury is a region on New Zealand’s South Island marked by grassy plains, clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Its largest city, Christchurch, is famed for its art scene and green spaces.

      Otago

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      There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.

      Marlborough

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      Marlborough Region is on the north-eastern corner of the South Island. The region is well known for its winemaking industry, and the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of coastal waterways, peninsulas and islands.

      Apart from the wine industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

      Southland

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      Southland is New Zealand’s most southerly region and includes the World Heritage ranked Fiordland National Park.

      The region's only city Invercargill offers a relaxed pace of life with wide streets, little traffic, spacious parks and gardens, striking Victorian and Edwardian architecture and impressive sporting facilities including New Zealand’s first indoor velodrome. Southland's location is such that views of Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights are common.

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COVID-19: Face coverings at Alert Levels 2, 3 and 4

Attention: This article was automatically translated and is still waiting on one of our editors to approve the translated content. 
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At Alert Levels 2, 3 and 4, most workers who interact with the public must wear a face covering.

This includes workers who:

  • Are delivering goods or food to homes, but only while they are out of the vehicle.
  • Serve customers at a cafe, restaurant, bar, or any other businesses or service that serves food or drink
  • Provide a close contact service, such hairdressers, tattoo artists, masseurs, or beauty therapists
  • Work at a retail store, supermarket, dairy, petrol station or other similar stores that sell things to customers.
  • Work an indoor public facility, such as a library, museum or a gym. However, people working at a swimming pool do not need to wear a face covering.
  • Drive a taxi, ride-share vehicle, ferry, bus or train used for public transport. This excludes school buses and ferries between the North Island and South Island.
  • Are in indoor secondary school settings at Alert Level 3 (if they are open). Then, face coverings are mandatory for students and staff who are working to provide, or support provision of, education.
  • These rules apply at Alert Level 2, 3 and 4. However not all the businesses listed above can operate at Alert Levels 3 and 4, and some can only open for contactless delivery so should not be interacting with customers.

    Exemptions for workers who cannot wear a face covering

    Some workers who have a disability or health condition may not be able to wear a face covering safely or comfortably. If so, these workers do not need to wear a face covering. Businesses should work with their staff in good faith to see if there are other health and safety actions that could be taken to keep their staff safe.

    Some customers and visitors may not feel comfortable if workers are not wearing a face covering. Consider asking your worker to apply for an exemption card they can show customers or provide other ways to communicate to customers why your worker is not able to wear a face covering. Keep this high-level and do not disclose personal information.

    People can request a card from the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ by contacting them on 04 801 9100 or at info@dpa.org.nz

    Some workers may have personal reasons for not wearing a face covering, for example they have a beard that prevents one from being worn. There is no exemption to face covering requirements for personal reasons. In such situations, businesses should work with their staff in good faith to resolve the situation and explore alternatives.

    Customers must also wear face coverings when visiting some businesses

    This includes when using public transport and taxies, visiting healthcare or aged care facilities and inside retail businesses, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, shopping malls, indoor marketplaces, takeaway food stores, and public venues, such as museums and libraries.

    Customers do not need to wear face covering when using click and collect services (for example at Alert Level 3), but these are encouraged.

    Only customers aged 12 years or older are required to wear a face coverings.

    Some people who have a disability or health condition may not be able to wear a face covering safely or comfortably, and so are not required to wear one. These people can get an exemption card but are not required to carry it or show it.

    Businesses and services do not need to stop people without face coverings from entering their premises or boarding their transport service, because some people will be exempt from wearing a face covering.

    Businesses may wish to require face coverings at their premise. They need to take care when doing so, to ensure they do not discriminate against people with disabilities that prevent them from wearing a face mask.

    Workers and customers can temporarily remove face coverings in some situations

    Aside from exemptions for health and disability reasons, face coverings can also be temporarily removed in situations such as:

  • To determine someone’s identity, for example when buying alcohol or completing a financial transaction.
  • To take medication.
  • To eat or drink, when eating or drinking is permitted on-site under the Alert Level rules.
  • To talk with someone who needs to see others’ mouths to communicate, due to being deaf or hard of hearing
  • In such situations, businesses should still meet physical distancing requirements.

    Keeping your workers safe when asking customers to wear face coverings

    As well as meeting the Alert Level requirements, businesses must continue to comply with all other laws including the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA).

    While businesses are not required to ensure people wear face coverings, they may take steps to encourage it.

    When considering these steps, businesses should think about how to keep their workers healthy and safe. This should include what you might do if a person becomes angry at the worker who is encouraging people to wear a face covering.

    If people refuse to wear a face covering, businesses are not required to take any further action to make them.

    You should ensure your workers have adequate support, instruction and information, including knowing what to do if things escalate.

    Providing information, training, instruction or supervision for workers(external link) — WorkSafe

    We recommend you provide your staff with wording they can use if things escalate, so they are best able to de-escalate a situation. We recommend you are clear when workers should walk away or decide not to continue to engage with the person. Workers have the right to cease or refuse work where they believe that the work would expose them or another person to a serious health and safety risk.

    Information can be found on WorkSafe’s website.

    Request assistance to resolve issues relating to the cessation of work(external link) — WorkSafe

    You should also consider what kind of behaviour might mean you call the Police and publicising this – for example you may want to put signs up indicating that abuse of your staff will not be tolerated.

    More information about face coverings can be found on the Unite Against Covid website.

    Wear a face covering(external link) — covid19.govt.nz

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