COVID-19 | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

This page brings together information relating to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), how it may affect your business and how you can stay up to date as new information becomes available.

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RESOURCES
COVID-19 official resources updated daily.

ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Join us for our series of free webinars specifically designed to support business through the impact of COVID-19.

ADVICE AND SUPPORT
For advice or support specific to your situation, please contact The Chamber.

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LATEST NEWSLETTERS

COVID-19 Update from The Chamber  -  Resurgence Plan

21 December 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber  -  Make Summer Unstoppable campaign

9 December 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber  -  Alert Level Announcement

21 September 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber  - Applications close tonight for COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension 

1 September 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - Alert Levels extended 

25 August 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - New wage subsidy scheme and simplified leave

18 August 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - What Alert Level 2 means for Canterbury businesses

13 August 2020

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Latest Word: COVID-19 Update

12 August 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - NZ border testing regime

24 June 2020

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COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - Moving to Alert Level 1

08 June 2020

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Media Release - Move to Alert Level 1 ‘a relief’ for Canterbury businesses 

Media Release - Extended support announcement welcomed 

Canterbury Business: The Lowdown - Ep10: Developments in a crisis with Mike Fisher (General Manager at Riverside Market) and Antony Gough (Property Developer)

The Chamber Budget Update - Rebuilding Together

14 May 2020

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Media Release - Ongoing support for business recovery and reposition welcomed

Budget Summary 2020 - Rebuilding Together

14 May 2020

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Canterbury Business: The Lowdown   - Ep9: Media and the pandemic with Kamala Hayman, The Press

Media Release - Survey shows impact of COVID and AL3 on businesses

COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - Moving into Alert Level 2

11 May 2020

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Media Release - Move to Alert Level 2 shows “high level of trust” 

Our advocacy during COVID-19
Through our BusinessNZ Network, we have been working closely with Government to ensure there is support that meets the needs of business, including practical measures to promote business and job continuity and acknowledge the Government’s response to the prioritisation of these issues. Read an overview of our COVID-related advocacy here.

Canterbury Business: The Lowdown  - Ep8: Navigating leadership challenges in a crisis with Kalia Colbin, Boma NZ

COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - What Alert Level 2 will look like

07 May 2020

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Canterbury Business: The Lowdown   - Ep7: Spend to save the local economy with David Dyason, Christchurch NZ

COVID-19 Update from The Chamber   - Cashflow and tax package announcements

01 May 2020

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Canterbury Business: The Lowdown  - Ep6: Keeping your inner sports team happy with Gilbert Enoka

Canterbury Business: The Lowdown - Ep5: Keeping your business afloat in a crisis with Leeann Watson, CEO of The Chamber

Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber  - Operating in Level 3

28 April 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber  - New COVID-19 Business Support Resource Pack Avaliable

24 April 2020

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Canterbury Business: The Lowdown - Ep4: Community assistance in a crisis: Sam Johnson - Student Volunteer Army

Limited business activities allowed to prepare for Alert Level 3
The Government has announced that businesses and other organisations can undertake limited activities on their premises to prepare for the move to Alert Level 3. Learn more.

23 April 2020

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Canterbury Business: The Lowdown   - Ep3: Marketing your business during a crisis with Strategy Creative

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber - Moving to Alert Level 3 Update 

21 April 2020

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NewstalkZB business update: Govt should consider ongoing financial support for businesses 
Leeann was interviewed for The Chamber's regular segment on NewstalkZB Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch. Listen to the full discussion.

21 April 2020

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Media Release - COVID-19 impact on local businesses

16 April 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber  - Further Support for Business

15 April 2020

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09 April 2020

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Media Release: Local advocacy key to central response

07 April 2020

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NewstalkZB business update: Local government needs to support businesses
Leeann was interviewed for The Chamber's regular segment on NewstalkZB Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch. This week their focus was on the local Government response. Listen to the full discussion.

07 April 2020

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03 April 2020

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Media Release: Greater support needed from local Government for Canterbury businesses

01 April 2020

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Business Finance Guarantee - Applications Open
Businesses can start applying to their banks for loans under the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme set up to support the New Zealand economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

01 April 2020

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IRD - Important Message for Businesses

31 March 2020

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Media Release - Minimum wage increase postponement “most sensible option”

31 March 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber

30 March 2020

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Clarification of the modification to the Wage Subsidy scheme 

28 March 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber
Further Changes to Wage Subsidy

27 March 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber 

26 March 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber 

23 March 2020

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Government Economic Response Package

17 March 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber

16 March 2020

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Coronavirus COVID-19 Update from The Chamber

09 March 2020

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COVID-19 Guidelines

06 March 2020

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Impact on business

It is important that individuals, workplaces and Government have a pandemic plan so we can:

• Minimise the impact of the disease on the people of New Zealand;
• Enable society to continue to function as normally as possible during and after a pandemic; and
• Minimise the impact on our economy.

The Ministry of Health has put together a guide on the impact of a pandemic on business, what businesses may experience and areas to plan for. It is important to consider these factors and plan for how they may affect your ability to run your business. 

Areas to plan for include:

• How you will maintain your essential services or activities with high numbers of staff absence over an extended period;
• What essential goods and services you rely on and how you will manage any disruptions to supply;
• How you can implement alternative work practices in your workplace (for example, social distancing measures, remote working capability);
• What services will need additional support to meet a surge in demand (for example, IT support services); and
• How you can protect your workers and reduce the risk of spread of the pandemic influenza virus in your workplace.

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Disruption planning

The key is to be prepared, which is why we are working closely with businesses to ensure they have planning in place – not just for this issue, but any kind of business interruption. Please click here to view our resource. 

If you would like to discuss the impact on your business or would like help in reviewing your emergency plans and procedures, please get in touch with The Chamber’s Employment Relations Advisors (details at the end of the page).

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Impact on export/import sector

As an exporter or importer, including businesses and organisations in the tourist sector, please contact our Business and International Trade Advisor Shirley van Waveren if you have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. As part of our BusinessNZ/ExportNZ networks, we are able to directly engage with government Ministers and departments to communicate concerns and trends to ensure government policy is able to respond accordingly. Shirley is also able to provide advice and support on any organisation-specific concerns or questions, and connect you with other agencies or experts where needed.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) has also launched an information page on its website to help exporters affected by the outbreak. The page brings together information from NZTE, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministry for Primary Industries to enable exporters to stay up-to-date on the latest developments and plan, prepare and mitigate any potential impact from the outbreak - visit www.nzte.govt.nz/coronavirus

As the situation is evolving, NZTE will update the page with confirmed information, to build a clear picture of the situation and determine what support may be needed. Exporters are encouraged to visit the page, which includes contact details to report any export issues.

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Prevention in the workplace

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, employers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of employees while at work. In the context of this virus (and any others like it), this means taking measures to prevent both employees who are travelling to, or coming back from, affected areas from contracting the disease or allowing others in the workplace to contract it from an infected person. 

WHO advise people follow basic principles to reduce risk of the virus spreading. These are:
- Avoid close contact with people suffering acute respiratory infections
- Wash hands frequently, especially after contact with ill people or their environment
- Avoid close contact with sick farm animals or wild animals
- People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette: 
          o     Maintain distance
          o     Cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing
          o     Wash hands

The Ministry has also outlined a number of actions that businesses can take to minimise the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace - read more here.

As different businesses and organisations may be impacted in different ways, if you would like to discuss the implications of this advice, please get in touch with our team directly on the details below.

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For more information and advice, please contact The Chamber on 03 366 5096, or email:

- HR/ER: Keith Woodroof, [email protected] 
- HR/ER: Melicia Clough, [email protected]
- HR/ER: Megan Te Kahu, [email protected] 
- Health & Safety: Helen Mason, [email protected]
- Health & Safety: Alan Boswell, alanb@cecc.org.nz
- Manufacturing: John Hamilton, [email protected]
- Export/Import: Shirley van Waveren, [email protected]
- General Business Support: Jason MacRae, [email protected]

Further information:
- Disruption Planning for Employers
- Continuity and Contingency Planning — business.govt.nz - Health: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) — Ministry of Health - Exporters: Coronavirus (Covid-19) – Information for exporters — New Zealand Trade and Enterprise - Tax: Tax relief – Coronavirus COVID-19 — Inland Revenue
- Immigration: Coronavirus update: INZ’s response — Immigration New Zealand
- Travel: Novel coronavirus, China (Covid-19) — SafeTravel (MFAT) - Tourism: Coronavirus – Information for industry — Tourism New Zealand - Workplace response: Workplace response to coronavirus — Employment New Zealand
- Workplace preparedness: Workplace preparedness for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) — WorkSafe New Zealand
- Redundancy information: Coronavirus: Redundancy information for employers — Work and Income - Landlords/tenants: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – what landlords and tenants need to know — Tenancy Services - Education sector: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) — Ministry of Education
- Small business: Coronavirus: Information for businesses - business.govt.nz
-       Accommodation sector: COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) - Information for hotels and hotel staff

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The Chamber

As the home and voice of Canterbury business, we are here to help.  Being part of the BusinessNZ Network, we are here to offer advice and support for businesses concerned about the risk or impact of Covid-19.

For advice specific to your situation, please contact The Chamber on 0800 50 50 96 or 03 366 5096, or email [email protected] or contact one of The Chamber’s advisory team. See all The Chamber contact information on our Advice and Support page.