Weekly Digest – 2 February 2022

Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Interval Shortened

The gap between the second dose and the booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine is being shortened from four months to three. The decision was made based on the advice of the Vaccine Technical Advisory Group, and it would mean a million more New Zealanders would be eligible.

This shorter interval will only apply to the Pfizer vaccine and would take effect starting 4 February.

Government Unveils Plan for Unemployment Insurance

The government unveiled its unemployment insurance plan wherein those who were laid off will be given payments worth 80% of their former income (capped at salaries of $130,911), for up to seven months after they lose their job.

This is aimed at smoothening the transition in and out of unemployment and helping people survive periods of not having a job. The scheme comes at a cost – a levy of 1.39 cents on every dollar earned by employees and businesses.

The policy, dubbed New Zealand Income Insurance Scheme (NZIIS) was announced at the Budget last year. The plan released on Wednesday is still in draft form and will go out for consultation.

OECD Report: Border Delays and House Price Crash are the Main Risks

The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development’s survey said the economy is starting to overheat having been supported by government pandemic support measures. The report also signalled risks to economic recovery ranging from continued closed borders and a crash in house prices.

It expected economic growth of 4.7% in 2021 to fall to 2.6% in 2023.

Additional Support for Arts & Culture Sector

The government has announced that the arts and culture industry will receive a funding boost. A one-off $5000 grant will be provided for self-employed individuals or sole traders who can show proof of a loss of income or opportunity to work.

Also, the Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund has been provided with an additional $35.5 million, while the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme will be given an extra $70 million so it can be extended to 31 January 2023. The Screen Production Recovery Fund has also been granted an additional $15 million, with $7.9 million going to the New Zealand Film Commission and $7.1 million allocated to New Zealand on Air.

Red Traffic Light Setting Explained

All of New Zealand moved to the red traffic light setting last Sunday after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern due to the community spread of the Omicron variant. Here’s what you can and can’t do:

  • Anyone can travel around the country. You don’t need to be vaccinated or have a negative test result unless you’re travelling by airline or ferry.
  • Vaccinated people can gather at home or at venues with a limit of 100 people, while unvaccinated individuals can gather at home or at venues that don’t require vaccine passes with a limit of 25 people.
  • Businesses can open with and without vaccine mandates, and employers must follow gathering limits.
  • Hospitality venues that use vaccine certificates can open to up to 100 people. Those who choose not to check vaccination status will have to go contactless.
  • Shops, outdoor markets, banks, and takeaway-only businesses can open with capacity limits based on 1-metre distancing.
  • Wearing of face masks is mandatory in certain settings such as on domestic flights, public transport, rideshare vehicles, inside a retail business, inside public venues or facilities, in indoor settings, and when visiting a health care service facility.

More information about the red setting can be found on the Unite Against COVID website.

Change in Leave Support Scheme

The Leave Support Scheme is now a weekly payment, instead of a two-week payment amid the change in the periods of self-isolation.

This scheme is available to employers and the self-employed to help pay their employees who have been advised to self-isolate because of COVID-19 and can’t work at home during that period.

The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme is paid at the rate of:

  • $600.00 a week for full-time workers who were working 20 hours or more a week.
  • $359 a week for part-time workers who were working less than 20 hours a week.

You can learn more about it here.

Events Transition Support Scheme Launched

The Events Transition Support Scheme opened last week, covering 90% of unrecoverable costs for major events cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. It will apply to live, in-person paid events with over 5,000 attendees from 17 December until 3 April 2022.

Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme

If you employ 50 or fewer staff, you may be able to apply for the Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme. This is a one-off 5 year loan where you can borrow a maximum of $10,000 plus $1,800 per full-time-equivalent employee within your business.

  • When applying for the loan, you need to be able to declare that your business is viable.
  • Your business must have experienced a minimum 30% decline in actual or predicted revenue over the period of a month, compared with the same month last year.
  • Applications are open until 31 December 2023 through myIR. If your business does not have a myIR account, you will need to create one to apply.

Loans will be interest free if they are paid back within 2 years. The interest rate is 3% for a maximum term of 5 years.

COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment

The Short-Term Absence Payment is available for businesses, including self-employed people, to help pay employees who cannot work from home while they wait at home for a COVID-19 test result. This is a one-off payment of $359 for each eligible worker. You can find the details here.

Kiwi Business Boost Tool

The Government has funded specialist consultancy support services to provide advice to businesses who need it. You can use the Kiwi Business Boost Tool to find out what services are available in your region.

The Treasury website’s COVID-19 Economic Response Measures can also provide more information on the range of support available to businesses.

Get in touch

Contact us if you have any questions or want to discuss the next steps for your business.