New Zealand is moving to the new traffic light system from 11:59pm on Thursday December 2, meaning Kiwis will have to navigate a new set of rules on where they can visit and what they can do.
Making the announcement on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said setting the date now would give people, communities and businesses time to prepare.
"Cabinet has today provided New Zealanders certainty by confirming the whole country will move into the traffic light system on December 3 - 11 days from now,” Ardern said.
What is the new traffic light system and how does it work?
Each region will be assigned a traffic light colour based on the risk of the health system being overwhelmed by an unsustainable number of hospitalisations.
Ardern said the colour each region will move into will be confirmed on November 29, giving regions time to "drive up vaccination rates further".
"As previously said, Auckland will enter at 'red'. The settings for other regions will be based on factors like vaccination levels, but Cabinet has already confirmed that no region will start at 'green' while we are transitioning and managing a current outbreak," Ardern said.
She described the new system as "simpler and safer" than the current system of alert levels.
People with two COVID-19 vaccines will be able to get a COVID vaccine certificate to show they are vaccinated.
Under the traffic light system, there will be different levels of freedom depending on whether you are or not.
Businesses will be divided depending on whether they use these vaccine passes to ensure only the vaccinated use their services. If they choose not to, their restrictions are far tougher.
What does each colour mean?
Red
Places with vaccination certificates
Hospitality businesses, gatherings, weddings and funerals, events and gyms will be allowed to open to up to 100 people, based on one-metre physical distancing.
Places and people without vaccination certificates
If a business, organisation or service, does not request proof of vaccine, restrictions will apply.
Hospitality will be contactless only, while gatherings, weddings and funerals are limited to 10 people. Events, close contact businesses like hairdressers and gyms will remain closed.
And if you're not fully vaccinated, you won't be able to visit the hairdressers or the gym, attend events like concerts, or dine in at cafes or restaurants. Other restrictions will apply.
Orange
Places with vaccination certificates
Under the 'orange' light, there will be no limits if vaccination certificates are used at hospitality businesses, gatherings, events, close contact businesses or gyms.
Places and people without vaccination certificates
If vaccine certificates aren't being used, hospitality will be contactless only while gatherings will be allowed up to 50 people based on one-metre physical distancing.
Events, gyms, and close contact businesses won't be allowed to operate. If you're not fully vaccinated, you won't be able to visit the hairdressers or the gym, attend events like concerts, or dine in at cafes or restaurants. Other restrictions will apply.
Green
Places with vaccination certificates
There will be no limits if vaccination certificates are used at hospitality businesses, gatherings, events, close contact businesses or gyms.
Places and people without vaccination certificates
If vaccine certificates aren't being used, hospitality, gatherings, events, close contact businesses and gyms will be allowed to open, however they will be limited to up to 100 people, based on one-metre physical distancing.
If you're not fully vaccinated, there will be some businesses and events you cannot go to.
