Aug 11

COVID-19 Update

New Zealand is at Level 2 of the Covid-19 response alert system until September 22. Auckland is in Alert Level 2.5.

The key focus at Alert Level 2 is on maintaining appropriate physical distancing and contact tracing registers. Customers will be allowed on the premises of all businesses (including pet and agriculture supply stores).

At Alert 2, all businesses can operate and interact with the public, so long as they do it in a safe way. They need to:

  • Maintain a contact tracing register wherever workers, contractors or customers interact.
  • Support the uptake of the NZ COVID Tracer mobile app by providing QR scan code posters at business and other organisational locations. See information about the contact tracing app and creating QR codes below.
  • Use alternative ways of working, if possible, to reduce the level of people movement and interaction, such as staggered breaks, shift working and flexible working.

For more information on Alert Level 2:

Contact tracing app

The NZ COVID Tracer app allows New Zealanders to create a digital diary of the places they’ve been, by scanning QR codes displayed at these locations. This helps log and track where people have visited and who they have come in contact with.

QR code posters

Organisations must support the uptake of the NZ COVID Tracer mobile app by the Ministry of Health, by providing QR scan code posters at business and other organisational locations.

Businesses can register and download unique QR code posters for each of their premises. You will be asked to verify your identity and for your NZBN, if you have one.

For more information:

International air freight transportation of essential goods

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) have provided information on government assistance with the export and import of animal medicines and agrichemicals, classified as essential goods.

Exporters – Air Freight

  • Exporters or freight forwarders interested in using this capacity should contact myfreight@nzte.govt.nz, setting out the type of goods, quantity, New Zealand shipping port, overseas destination port and frequency.
  • A case should also be made on why these goods should be freighted and what will happen if they are not.

Importers – Air Freight

  • Importers requiring urgent supplies with high-priority goods such as human and animal medical supplies, which they are unable to organise shipment of, should contact myfreight@nzte.govt.nz, setting out the same information as required for exporters (as above).
  • NZTE will deal with airlines directly on this – approaches from airlines are not required under this initiative.

Contacts

Agcarm

Contact us if you need any help or have any questions.

Environmental Protection Authority

HSNO queries:

Michael Berardozzi Michael.Berardozzi@epa.govt.nz or
Regis Lapage Regis.Lapage@epa.govt.nz

Ministry for Primary Industries

For specific COVID-19 queries: 0800 00 83 83  or e-mail info@mpi.govt.nz (answered within 24 hours).

ACVM enquiries: Karen Booth Karen.Booth@mpi.govt.nz  

NZTE

Air-freight imports/exports: myfreight@nzte.govt.nz

Ministry of Health

Contact tracing: 0800 800 606 or email: help@covidtracer.min.health.nz

Requirements for Entities – Modifications and Exemptions

The Covid-19 Response (Requirements for Entities – Modifications and Exemptions) Act 2020, became law on 16 May and is in force until 30 November 2020. It was formerly part of the Covid-19 (Further Management Measures) Legislation Bill.

The Act allows organisations with constitutions requiring certain matters to be done on a face to face basis or in writing - including the calling or holding meetings, voting, record keeping, providing information and signing documents – to do them instead by electronic means if Covid-19 prevents them from being done in the usual way. To use an electronic voting process, most of the organisation’s governing officers must believe doing so won’t compromise, but will substantially comply with, constitution provisions relating to the integrity of the voting. They must sign a certificate to that effect and it must be kept with the organisation’s records. Before deciding on an electronic vote, they must consider whether everyone entitled to vote will have a reasonable opportunity to do so and whether anyone entitled to vote will be detrimentally affected.

A record must be kept of matters done electronically and why electronic means were used. Individuals can be taken to have agreed to the use of electronic means (including the use of email signatures) if they have previously provided an email address which there is no reason to believe is incorrect, they won’t be detrimentally affected and they haven’t indicated they want to use some other means of communication. The responsible Registrar must be notified of what has been done electronically and provided with a copy of the record where these reasons are set out.

Governing officers are directors of companies and their equivalents in an incorporated society.

Constitutions and rules can be modified over the May to November period – to allow for electronic voting and in relation to record keeping, dispute resolution, disciplinary procedures, deferral of auditing or financial reporting and so on - provided some protections are observed but the modifications will be temporary. Certain matters – such as an organisation’s purpose and objects - may not be modified. A record of any modification must be kept together with the reasons for it.

By contrast, over the same period lasting amendments can be made to constitutions and rules by electronic means. This would seem to allow the use of electronic means to be written permanently into an organisation’s rules or constitution.

Situation in Australia

CropLife Australia has added a dedicated COVID-19 page with the latest Australian information and links regarding escalated border closures and other government advice.

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