COVID-19 Industry Updates
In this page you will find links to all of NZEA's COVID-19 comms and media releases plus other useful information relevant to this critical time for our sector.
News and updates
22 October 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: The COVID-19 Protection Framework
18 October 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Alert level decision, vaccine certificates, AL2 guidance, letter to Minister Nash
16 October 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: 'Insure us against losses' - events sector pleads
11 October 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Important clarification on alert level 2 guidelines
04 October 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Alert level decision, vaccine certificates, tools & resources
27 September 2021 - MEDIA RELEASE & COVERAGE: The continued impact of COVID-19 on the Events Sector
27 September 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Media Release, Letter to Minister Nash, Guidelines for Events
23 September 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: Staging events under alert level 2 tough, but not impossible
20 September 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Alert level changes & Snapshot Survey closes tomorrow!
19 September 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: Event industry desperate for future strategy to survive COVID-19
14 September 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Alert level changes, letter to Minister Nash & Industry Impact Snapshot Survey
12 September 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: COVID-19: Delta outbreak deals $6m blow to events sector, alert level 2 'not workable
08 September 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: COVID-19: Progress stalls on pandemic insurance scheme for live events
06 September 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Alert level changes & mandatory record keeping update
01 September 2021 - COVID-19 Industry Update: Update on mandatory record keeping + 2021 Eventing the Future Conference & Awards Gala Evening postponed
27 August 2021 - COVID-19 Industry Update: Alert levels, mandatory record keeping, snapshot survey results
20 August 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Financial Support | Industry Snapshot | Webinars
23 July 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: What the trans-Tasman bubble closing all together could mean for the events industry?
30 March 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: Let us hold exhibitor shows safely, events sector tells Government
12 March 2021 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Industry Impact Survey & Important Updates
1 March 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: Alert level change has widespread impact for events industry
18 February 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: The impact of lockdowns on events around New Zealand (TV3 AM Show)
17 February 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW - It's still inhospitable terrain at level 2
29 January 2021 - Key messages for events from the DPMC
29 January 2021 - Make Summer Unstoppable resources for your events
22 January 2021 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: Events industry on The Wiggles' predicament
10 December 2020 - UPDATE: Make Summer Unstoppable
23 November 2020 - Letter to Minister Nash - COVID-19 Impact on the events sector
13 November 2020 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Weekend events, play your part
23 October 2020 - COVID-19 INDUSTRY UPDATE: Play it safe this long weekend
12 October 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: Event Sector Voluntary Code update + logo + key messages
14 September 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: Regional Events Fund + Alert Level decision
7 September 2020 - MEDIA RELEASE & COVERAGE: Continued Alert Level Uncertainty Takes Toll On NZ’s Events Sector
24 August 2020 - COVID-19 industry impact survey #4
14 August 2020 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: No gatherings at Alert Level 3
(TV1 Breakfast)
13 August 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: Alert Levels 3 & 2, the COVID Code & events funds update
7 August 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: Survey Results & COVID Media Release
4 August 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: $50M Regional Events Fund announced
3 July 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: Domestic Events Fund now open!
2 July 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: $10M Domestic Events Fund announced
19 June 2020 - INDUSTRY UPDATE: Survey Results + Awards & Conference Update
11 June 2020 - Voluntary Code for Events (the COVID Code) + Webinar
28 May 2020 - Alert Level 2 now allows greater scope for events
14 May 2020 - Industry Update: recovery budget, industry workshop and alert level 2 clarified
11 May 2020 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: Events Association pleads for Government support with mass gatherings limited to 100 under alert level 2
11 May 2020 - NZ Events Sector Proposed Survival Strategy submitted to government
07 May 2020 - NZEA presenting to the Epidemic Response Committee at NZ Parliament - @2h31’13”
06 May 2020 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: COVID-19 lockdown wipes billions from New Zealand's economy
06 May 2020 - MEDIA INTERVIEW: Coronavirus: Events industry asks Govt for $80m Covid-19 rescue package
04 May 2020 - COVID-19: 48 hour consultation for government submission
01 May 2020 - COVID-19: Meeting with Minister & Industry Update
29 Apr 2020 - COVID-19: Letter to Government & Industry Update
15 Apr 2020 - Commerce Commission guidance on cancelled events
07 Apr 2020 - MEDIA RELEASE & COVERAGE: Future of NZ events industry in question with $100m COVID-related losses already sustained
23 Mar 2020 - MEDIA RELEASE & COVERAGE: Downward spiral for NZ events sector with more than 3,000 events cancelled to date
17 Mar 2020 - COVID-19 Industry update & impact survey
16 Mar 2020 - COVID-19 Industry update & impact survey
13 Mar 2020 - COVID-19 industry impact survey & latest update
05 Mar 2020 - COVID-19: Staying informed & useful resources
28 Feb 2020 - COVID-19: Staying informed & useful resources
Regional Events Fund (REF)
The $50M REF Fund has now been split across International Marketing Alliances (IMA) groupings based on their share of international visitor spending prior to COVID-19. All nine Regional Investment Plans have been received, reviewed against the criteria and approved.
The key criteria for applying for funding is that events should drive domestic and intra-regional visitation.
The Regional Events Fund can be used for some or all of the following activities:
- Event funding for new and existing events that drive inter and intra-regional visitation.
- Capability or capacity building for event management (e.g. manage event programme) for a Lead Entity or Panel Member.
- Fund management/secretariat.
- Event strategy development.
- Event feasibility studies and event development.
Each IMA grouping has the autonomy to determine the mix of events that best meets the regions’ needs over the next two to four years. Further information about each regional investment plan is available on the MBIE website.
Make Events Unstoppable Resources for your events
The COVID-19 advertising and public engagement campaign, Make Summer Unstoppable is all about encouraging New Zealanders to continue doing those easy, everyday actions that help keep everyone safe and events running over summer and beyond:
- Continue good health practices
- Keep COVID-19 in check by washing hands
- Scanning QR codes
- Staying home if sick and getting a test
Online toolkit
To help, an online toolkit has been created with a range of customisable posters, images and resources specifically for the events sector to engage with attendees, venues, suppliers and the public.
Click here for the online toolkit
The Events Sector Voluntary Code
The Event Sector Voluntary Code provides guidance to all aspects of the event sector to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at events, and to support the Ministry of Health to contact trace if an outbreak of COVID-19 were to occur.
You can view the latest version on this page
Be your own advocate - because we can't do this alone
The impact of COVID-19 on the New Zealand events industry will extend beyond the end of the lock-down period. NZEA's priority has been, and will continue to be, to advocate on behalf of the sector asking for targeted sector support.
However we can’t do it on our own and therefore need you to write to your local MP.
As part of the sector, you can amplify our request through your local Member of Parliament (MP) ensuring our joint message is heard.
It takes just a few minutes to search for your local MP and email them directly. To assist, we have created a template letter ‘ready to go’ (feel free to alter, of course).