Auckland is at Alert Level 2, and the rest of NZ is at Alert Level 1
These Alert Levels came into effect at 6am on Sunday 7 March.
Alert Levels update
- From 6am Sunday 7 March Auckland is at Alert Level 2 and the rest of New Zealand is at Alert Level 1.
- You are legally required to wear a face mask or covering on all public transport and flights throughout New Zealand.
- For more information about Alert Levels, see the Unite Against COVID-19 website.
Anyone who has cold or flu symptoms, including muscle aches and fatigue, should get a test and stay home until you have a negative test result. Find your local testing facility on the Healthpoint website.
Case numbers
As at 9 am 7 March 2021 there are 78 active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. See our Current cases pageand the latest News and media updates.
For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS.
COVID-19: Getting a vaccine
We’re expecting enough COVID-19 vaccines for everyone in New Zealand. They’re free and everyone in New Zealand is eligible. Find out how you can get a vaccine.
Your vaccine will be free
The COVID-19 vaccination will be free of charge.
Who can get a vaccine
You can get a free vaccine if you’re in New Zealand
Everyone in New Zealand is eligible for free COVID-19 vaccination, regardless of your visa or citizenship status. Any information collected will not be used for immigration purposes.
The Government has secured more than enough COVID-19 vaccines for everyone in New Zealand – over 5 million people. We’re also buying vaccines for those in the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Sāmoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.
It will not be mandatory for the general public. You can choose whether to get vaccinated.
When you’ll get a vaccine
The COVID-19 Immunisation Programme is already underway. Over time, everyone in New Zealand will have access to a vaccine if they would like one. Our aim is to vaccinate as many people in New Zealand as possible during the year as part of the programme.
The timings below assume there is low or no community transmission in New Zealand. This may change depending on what’s happening in the community.
Border and managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) workers
Border and managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) workers will be vaccinated first from 20 February 2021.
This is all workers who undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing as part of their work. These groups include:
- cleaners
- nurses who do health checks in MIQ
- security staff
- customs and border officials
- airline staff
- hotel workers.
It should take 2-3 weeks to vaccinate border workers, followed by the people they live with (household contacts). This is to reduce the risk of them getting COVID-19.
How to get a vaccine – for border and MIQ workers
People living with border and MIQ workers (household contacts)
This includes anyone:
- who usually lives with you, whether they’re related to you or not
- who live with you part-time.
It also covers papakāinga and other shared communal living arrangements.
The people you live with (household contacts) will be vaccinated as part of the initial roll-out, after border and MIQ workers have had their first dose.
You will be able to nominate the people you live with (household contacts) and we’ll contact them once vaccinations have started with more information.
Non-border frontline healthcare workers
We expect that between March and June, non-border frontline healthcare workers, like general practitioners, pharmacists and people working in our testing centres, will have access to the vaccines as the next at-risk workforce.
Other at-risk people
We then expect to shift the focus of the immunisation programme over the coming months to include a broader range of at-risk people (such as other health workforces, older adults, and those with a relevant underlying health condition).
The general public
The general public vaccinations are expected to begin in the second half of 2021.
Where vaccinations will be available
To start with, it is likely vaccines will be given to the general public in workplaces and community locations. District health boards (DHBs) will confirm vaccination sites closer to the time.
