A four-tier alert level restrictions system was in place in during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand between March 2020 and December 2021, with levels 3 and 4 being forms of lockdown. In level 1, there were no restrictions; in level 2, there were limits on gatherings; in level 3, only purposeful travel was allowed and there were strict limits on gatherings; and in level 4, only essential travel was allowed and gatherings were banned.
The alert level system was replaced with the COVID-19 Protection Framework, known as the "traffic light" system, which uses vaccination rates to determine the level of restrictions needed. The traffic light system began at 11:59 pm on 2 December 2021.
The country may return to the alert level system if a future major outbreak occurred that necessitated it, such as a new vaccine-resistant variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
Alert levels
Alert levels are cumulative – each level includes the restrictions of the level below it.
Note that during each lockdown, minor tweaks are made to the exact parameters of each alert level, meaning that alert levels with the same numerical value are not directly comparable across timeframes.
The levels are as follows:
Level 1 – Prepare COVID-19 is uncontrolled overseas. The disease is contained in New Zealand and there are sporadic imported cases, but isolated household transmission could be occurring. Border entry measures to minimise risk of importing COVID-19 cases. Intensive testing for COVID-19. Rapid contact tracing of any positive case. People arriving in New Zealand without symptoms of COVID-19 go into a managed isolation facility for at least 14 days. People arriving in New Zealand with symptoms of COVID-19 or who test positive after arrival go into a quarantine facility and are unable to leave their room for at least 14 days. Mandatory self-isolation may be applied. Schools and workplaces are open, and must operate safely. No restrictions on personal movement or gatherings. Stay home if you are sick, report flu-like symptoms. Wash and dry hands, cough into elbow, do not touch your face. Businesses and public transport must display QR codes to allow for contact tracing. Face coverings are required on public transport and aircraft, but not school buses or Cook Strait ferries. Children under 12 are exempt along with passengers in taxis or rideshare services and people with disabilities or mental health conditions.
Level 2 – Reduce The disease is contained, but the risk of community transmission remains. Household transmission could be occurring, and there are single or isolated cluster outbreaks. People can connect with friends and family, go shopping, or travel domestically, but should follow public health guidance. Physical distancing of two metres from people you do not know when out in public is recommended, with one metre physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces unless other measures are in place. No more than 100 people at indoor or outdoor gatherings (subject to any lower limit, e.g. fire regulations). Sport and recreation activities are allowed, subject to conditions on gatherings, contact tracing, and – where practical – physical distancing. Public venues can open but must comply with public health measures. Health and disability care services operate as normally as possible. Businesses can open to the public, but must follow public health guidance including in relation to physical distancing and contact tracing. Alternative ways of working encouraged where possible (e.g. remote working, shift-based working, physical distancing, staggering meal breaks, flexible leave). Schools, early childhood education and tertiary education providers can open with appropriate public health measures in place. People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. those with underlying medical conditions, especially if not well controlled, and seniors) are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home. They may work, if they agree with their employer that they can do so safely.
Level 3 – Restrict There is a high risk the disease is not contained. Community transmission might be happening. New clusters may emerge but can be controlled through testing and contact tracing. People instructed to stay home in their support bubble other than for essential personal movement – including to go to work, school if they have to or for local recreation. Physical distancing of two metres outside home (including on public transport), or one metre In controlled environments like schools and workplaces. People must stay within their immediate household bubble, but can expand this to reconnect with close family / whānau, or bring in caregivers, or support isolated people. This extended bubble should remain exclusive. Schools (years 1 to 10) and Early Childhood Education centres can safely open, but have limited capacity. Children should learn at home if possible. People must work from home unless that is not possible. Businesses can open premises, but cannot physically interact with customers. Low risk local recreation activities are allowed. Public venues are closed (e.g. libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds, markets). Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed but only for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. Physical distancing and public health measures must be maintained. Healthcare services use virtual, non-contact consultations where possible. Inter-regional travel is highly limited (e.g. for essential workers, with limited exemptions for others). People at high risk of severe illness (older people and those with existing medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home where possible, and take additional precautions when leaving home. They may choose to continue to work.
Level 4 – Lockdown It is likely the disease is not contained. Sustained and intensive community transmission is occurring, and there are widespread outbreaks and new clusters. People must stay at home (in their bubble) other than for essential personal movement. Safe recreational activity is allowed in local area. Travel is severely limited. All gatherings cancelled and all public venues closed. Businesses closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics, petrol stations) and lifeline utilities. Educational facilities closed. Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities possible. Reprioritisation of healthcare services. Prior to 29 August 2021, whitebaiting and fishing with the exception of Māori customary fishing rights was not allowed under Level 4. These restrictions were since eased.
History 2020 On 21 March 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the introduction of a country-wide alert level system, similar to the existing fire warning systems. There are four levels, with 1 being the least risk of infection and 4 the highest. At the time of the announcement, New Zealand was at level 2. Each level brings added restrictions on activities or movements. Each region can have an individual alert level based on the severity of their own infections, and these levels can be changed at any time.
At the time of Ardern's announcement, New Zealand was at alert level 2. Ardern announced on 23 March that, effective immediately, New Zealand would be at alert level 3, moving to level 4 at 11:59 pm on 25 March. On 20 April, Ardern announced that New Zealand would move to alert level 3 at 11:59 pm on 27 April, with businesses and schools being allowed to have employees enter the premises during the last week of alert level 4 to prepare the facility for the transition to alert level 3.
The country remained at alert level 3 for at least two weeks, with the decision of whether to move down to level 2 made on 11 May. On 11 May, it was announced that New Zealand would enter alert level 2 from 11:59 pm on 13 May, lifting lockdown restrictions while maintaining physical distancing in public and for private gatherings with more than ten people. On 8 June, Ardern announced that the country would enter alert level 1 at 11:59 pm that night, lifting the remaining restrictions.
After new cases of community transmission were detected on 11 August, New Zealand was moved to alert level 2 and Auckland to level 3 at noon on 12 August; Auckland moved down to level "2.5", a modified version of level 2 with further limitations on public gatherings and mandated mask wearing on public transport, at 11:59 pm on 30 August. New Zealand moved to level 1 on 21 September at 11:59 pm while Auckland moved to level 2 on 23 September at 11:59 pm. Auckland moved down to level 1 on 7 October at 11:59 pm.
2021 On 14 February 2021, after the new community cases were detected in Auckland, Auckland moved to alert level 3 at 11:59 pm, while the rest of New Zealand moved to alert level 2. Auckland moved down a level to alert level 2, while the rest of New Zealand moved to alert level one, at 11:59 pm on 17 February. Auckland moved down to level 1 on 22 February at 11:59 pm. Auckland moved up to level 3, while the rest of New Zealand moved to level 2 on 28 February at 6:00 am. Auckland moved down to level 2, while the rest of New Zealand moved to level 1 at 6:00 am on 7 March. On 12 March, Auckland moved back to level 1 at midday.
On 23 June 2021, the Wellington region including the Wairarapa and the Kāpiti Coast moved to Alert Level 2 at 6pm after a Sydney man travelled to the region while infected the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. The Wellington lockdown was scheduled to last until 11:59 pm on 27 June. On 27 June, Cabinet extended Wellington's Alert Level 2 lockdown for 48 hours until 11:59 pm on 29 June. On 29 June, Wellington moved down to level 1 at 11:59 pm.
On 17 August 2021, after a report of a new community case presumed to be infected with the Delta variant of the virus, Ardern announced that New Zealand would move to alert level 4 at 11:59 pm. New Zealand is expected to be at level 4 for a minimum of three days, while Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula for 7 days. On 23 August 2021, Ardern announced that most of New Zealand will remain at alert level 4 until 11:59 pm on 27 August, while Auckland will remain at alert level 4 until 11:59 pm on 31 August. On 27 August, Ardern announced that New Zealand will remain on Alert Level 4 until 11:59 pm on 31 August. While Auckland and the Northland Region will remain on Alert Level 4 for at least two more weeks, the rest of the country will move into Alert Level 3 from 1 September 2021.
On 30 August, the Government hinted that Northland's alert level could be lowered to Alert Level 3 at 11:59 pm on 2 September 2021 if wastewater testing confirmed no traces of COVID-19. On 2 September, Ardern confirmed that Northland would move to Alert Level 3 at 11:59 pm on 2 September since wastewater testing within the region had not detected COVID-19. Checkpoints will be set up between Northland and the Auckland Region, which remained under Level 4.
On 6 September, Ardern confirmed that all of New Zealand except Auckland will move to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm on 7 September. However, new Level 2 restrictions will be introduced including mandatory mask wearing at most public venues, recommended mask wearing for school students above the age of 12 years, a 50-person limit at indoor venues, and a 100-person limit at outdoor venues.
On 13 September, Ardern confirmed that Auckland would remain on Alert Level 4 until 11:59 pm at 21 September; with five week period marking the longest that the region has been under Level 4. In addition, the rest of New Zealand would remain on Alert Level 2 until at least 21 September.