New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 4.
New Zealand will be moving to Alert Level 3 at 11.59pm on 27th April - so effectively from Tuesday 28 April.
We will be at Alert Level 3 for at least two weeks.
Find out more at covid19.govt.nz.
As I said earlier - I have continued to work throughout Alert Level 4 - even if not always at 100%
I will also be working during Alert Level 3, and continue to be take my guidance from the New Zealand Government and the Ministry of Health as to what is allowed and how I can operate..
Some specific information:
ORDERING AND SHIPPING
During Alert Level 4 only essential products can be shipped.
All Stampin' Up! shipments into New Zealand are currently on hold.
Orders can still be placed and they will processed, packed, and then stored at our Australian distribution centre until shipping in New Zealand resumes.
UPCOMING EVENTS
At Alert Levels 3 and 4 we cannot gather for in-person events.
We are not able to have people in our homes to run our businesses.
All scheduled in-person events have been cancelled until 31 May.
I will be contacting those of you who have pre-paid for events
In-person events that are planned after 31 May are currently still scheduled, but will be reassessed closer to that time as advice from the New Zealand Government and our Ministry of Health becomes available.
MAIL
During Alert Level 4, the New Zealand Postal Service was for essential mail only. The following is from the NZ Post Website:
"Can I post mail within New Zealand and Internationally during Alert Level 4?
Yes, if you need to send essential mail within New Zealand or Internationally during Alert Level 4 you can still do so. Essential mail for consumers hasn’t been specifically defined by the Government to date, however, the guidance you should apply is to
only send items that are very necessary.
Does that mean I can send personal letters and/or cards to my friends and family?
In most cases these won’t be essential mail. Please use good personal judgement when deciding whether to send something."
This is why during Alert Level 4, I have not sent products/orders to customers, class kits, prizes, letters or cards.
I am hopeful these mail restrictions will be eased at Alert Level 3. I will again take guidance from the New Zealand Government around this.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY AT ALERT LEVEL 3
"To operate safely at all alert levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses must comply with:
- settings for the current alert level (including public health measures), and
- any appropriate public health requirements for their workplace (e.g. physical distancing), and
- all other health and safety obligations.
At all alert levels, businesses need to meet all public health guidelines."
To be able to restart activities such as preparing and mailing items like kits, classes and prizes, and to allow any contact-less collection of orders, I would need to meet the above requirements. These are likely to include developing a written safety plan.
I am currently reviewing the settings, requirements and guidelines outlined by the Government (including Ministry of Health, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ([MBIE] & Worksafe) and will let you know when CreativeJax will be offering any of the activities I noted above.