NZOIA Response to COVID-19 - Updated 18 February 2021
At the time of writing the Ministry of Health reports a total of 2,340 cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. There are 49 active cases. There are five community cases, all connected and under investigation. The source of transmission is unknown and the virus is the UK variant. Locations of interest where the cases have visited are available on the Ministry of Health website.
Auckland is now at Alert 2 and the rest of NZ at Alert 1. The Alert Levels will be reviewed again on Monday 22 February.
Protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Legally you must wear a face covering when travelling on domestic flights anywhere in NZ and on public transport to, from and through Auckland. You are encouraged to use face coverings on public transport outside of Auckland and when you cannot maintain physical distance from people you don’t know.
All of New Zealand should continue to do the following:
- sign into places, using the NZ COVID Tracer app, turn on Bluetooth tracing or keep a record
- maintain good hygiene practices
- stay home if you’re unwell and get a test.
The Government has a comprehensive plan to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for NZ’ers
Strict border measures will remain as COVID-19 is uncontrolled in many areas overseas. The new cases and strains emerging through the NZ border are a reminder that COVID-19 is still a threat to NZ.
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.
NZOIA Office and Course Updates
NZOIA Office Updates
Courses - NZOIA Courses can still operate under Alert Level 1 and 2. You will only be able to attend a NZOIA course if you have come from an Alert 1 or 2 location. If you are traveling to the course you need to take your Alert Level with you. If you are in a Alert 3 location at the time of the course please contact the office to arrange an alternative solution. We can transfer your application to a future course, or hold your fee in credit or provide a full refund of your fee. You can view our Risk Management of COVID-19 on NZOIA Courses here:
Risk Management of COVID-19 on NZOIA courses - Alert 1
Risk Management of COVID-19 on NZOIA courses - Alert 2
Symposium – Unfortunately the 2020 Symposium was cancelled. All attendees received a full refund or credit. Tertiary Scholarship students will have the option of joining the 2021 Symposium. Those with credits will still need to register online. Registration opened on the 15 February. The 2021 Symposium is all go and will be held at Glentui Meadows hosted by Adventure Specialties on the 14-17 October.
Membership – Annual membership and registration fees were due on the 1 July 2020. There were a couple of options to assist you maintain your membership and registration if you were 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.
- If you are still experiencing financial hardship, please get in touch to discuss options.
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. 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.
Deferment/Reassessment or Training Pathways – The NZOIA Technical Sub Committee has extended all reassessments and training pathways due, until the 31 December 2020.
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.
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
Education Outside NZ provide a guidance and reassurance document about EOTC and Outdoor Education at Alert 2.
Assistance Available
Businesses experiencing a 30% drop in revenue over a 7 day period, due to a COVID alert level increase of 2 or higher can apply for a subsidy. The Government has activated the RSP and applications can be made from Tuesday 23 February 2021.
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.
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. Funding for Community Groups.
Other funding avenues can be located on the Sport NZ website.
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.