NZOIA Reponse to COVID-19 - Updated 22 September 2020
At the time of writing the Ministry of Health reports a total of 1,815 cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. There are 62 active cases.
The Auckland region remains at Alert Level 2 – Reduce, and is set to increase the gathering limits to 100 from 11:59 on Wednesday 23 September. Aucklanders travelling to other regions are being asked to take their alert level with them. The Government will review the Alert Level for Auckland on Monday 5 October.
The rest of New Zealand has moved down to Alert Level 1 - Prepare.
It is mandatory to wear face coverings on public transport and planes at Alert 2. This includes domestic flights, trains, buses and ferries to, from or through Aucklandand. The Ministry of Health is encouraging continued use at Alert 1 as it is known to decrease the risk of spreading the virus. We recommend you familiarise yourself with the appropriate use of masks.
Specific advice for Play, Active Recreation and Sport at the different alert levels can be found on Sport NZ’s website and this will be updated as new information comes to hand.
Protect yourself and others from COVID-19
Strict border measures will remain as COVID-19 is uncontrolled in many areas overseas. The new cases have emerged through the NZ border are a reminder that COVID-19 is still a threat to NZ. There are four key areas to the NZ elimination strategy we can help with:
NZOIA Office and Course Updates
NZOIA Office Updates
Courses - NZOIA Courses can still operate under Level 2 and Level 1. You can view our Risk Management of COVID-19 on NZOIA Courses here:
Risk Management of Covid-19 on NZOIA courses - Level 1
Risk Management of Covid-19 on NZOIA courses - Level 2
Symposium – Unfortunately due to the continued uncertainty of Alert Levels, Dilworth and NZOIA have jointly agreed to cancel this year’s Symposium. We also feel that being so close to Auckland, it wouldn’t be morally responsible to host a large event in these uncertain times. It is not a decision NZOIA has taken lightly and we did try our upmost to get it across the line. Some refresher workshops will continue to run independent of the Symposium and those on the workshops have been contacted. All attendees will receive a full refund or credit. Tertiary Scholarship students will have the option of joining the 2021 Symposium.
NZOIA AGM – Due to the Symposium being cancelled, this will no longer take place at Dilworth. We are preparing for an online AGM and reviewing the date. An update will be provided shortly.
Membership – Annual membership and registration fees were due on the 1 July 2020. There are a couple of options to assist you maintain your membership and registration if you experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19:
- spread out your Full or Associate Member payments over 4 instalments. Due on 1 July, 1 Aug, 1 Sep and 1 Oct. We will renew your membership once the first payment has been made.
- downgrade to Associate Membership and put your qualifications on hold if you are no longer in employment. You can upgrade to a Full Member once you are back in the workforce.
Applications and Course Fees – The 2021 calendar is live. If your course has been cancelled or is cancelled due to COVID-19, you can choose to transfer your application to a future course, hold your fee in credit or request a full refund of your fee which we will honour as soon as we can. All those enrolled on cancelled Refresher Workshops had their qualification extended for 6 months.
Revalidation - Due to the timely implementation of the revalidation review all members who had qualifications expiring on the 30 June 2020 have been given a year extension and are now due on the 30 June 2021. If your qualification is ‘on hold’ until the 30 June 2020 we can extend that another 6 months to give you a chance to attend a Refresher Workshop before the 31 December 2020. Just drop us a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will make the changes to your membership profile.
Deferment/Reassessment or Training Pathways – The NZOIA Technical Sub Committee has extended all reassessments and training pathways due, until the 31 December 2020. There is no need to contact us as we will do this automatically.
Advice for Members
We understand that this situation has had and will continue to have a big effect on many of our membership, both emotionally and financially. During this time, it is important to take care of ourselves, our whanau and our community. Employers also have a duty to minimise risk to staff. The situation is constantly changing and we need to act decisively.
At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained, but there is a risk of community transmission. Gatherings in Auckland are limited to 10 people in a defined space Until 11:59 on Wednesday 23 September. At Alert Level 1 we all need to be ready in case COVID-19 reappears in the community. Outdoor recreation programmes and courses need to ensure they are following the below Government measures.
Government Measures to be taken against COVID-19 at Alert Levels
Sport NZ Play, active recreation and sport at different Alert Levels
Sport NZ Contact Tracing Guidance and Template
Sport NZ Hygiene and Sanitation Guidance
Recreation Aotearoa have and extensive library of guidelines, webinars and resources to inform and support the recreation industry.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa continue to offer updated advice on COVID-19.
Mountain Safety Council COVID-19 Outdoor Activity guidance remains live and has been updated to reflect the alert level changes. The site was designed to reflect different alert levels in different areas of NZ.
Due for an audit or surveillance?
If, due to COVID-19 impacts, your business is not providing adventure activities at this time you may be able to shift your audit date out by up to six months. If you operating there may be some flexibility available if you are struggling to know when you will be able to undertake a site visit. WorkSafe has determined criteria that the audit providers need to address before they can offer you any flexibility. This includes that the audit provider has ‘high confidence’ in your safety management system. Contact your audit provider to discuss.
Assistance Available
The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme is available for employers, including sole traders, to pay their employees who can’t work. This may be because they are in one of the affected groups and Ministry of Health guidelines recommend they stay at home, and they can’t work from home.
If you lose your job (including self-employment) from 1 March 2020 to 30 October 2020 due to COVID-19 you may be eligible for the COVID-19 Income Relief Payment. It’s available from 8 June 2020. 12 weeks of payments to help with the living costs after a sudden job loss, and give you time to find other work. Apply on line from the 8 June 2020.
Sport and Recreation Recovery Package
On Sunday 17 May the Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson announced a $265m investment into the Sport and Recreation sector as part of Budget 2020. The funding will be spread over four years and seek to achieve three outcomes.
- Reset and Rebuild
- Strengthen and Adapt
- Different and Better
Sport NZ will consult with the sector in the development of a plan to manage the funding. Details on this consultation process will be provided as a next step.
Bushiness Advisory Funding
The Government has allocated funding to support New Zealand businesses and service providers during COVID-19. The funding will provide support in areas such as HR, health and wellbeing, business continuity, cashflow and finance management, strategy and digital capability. The fund is only for commercial operators not for charitable or incorporated organisations. You will go through a phone consultation and then will be issued vouchers to use with a consultant/advisor worth between $2000 - $5000. Find out more and register here.
Other Funding Avenues
The Gaming Trusts put a lot of money back into the community through sport and recreation. Unfortunately, they too have been hit hard by COVID-19 and is expected they will have less money in the pool to apply for. They will start back up under Alert Level 2. Funding for Community Groups.
Other funding avenues can be located on the Sport NZ website, however you will need to check if they are up and running again.
If you are experiencing a cough, a high temperature (at least 38 degrees Celsius), shortness of breath, sore throat, sneezing and runny nose and/or temporary loss of smell and have recently been overseas or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 please call the Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or your Doctor immediately.