The new COVID-19 'traffic light' system is just days away, but Newshub can reveal official websites have published what appears to be conflicting rules.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) published sector-specific advice for businesses last week on what rules will be in place at each level of the new COVID Protection Framework, which comes into effect on Friday.
The official MBIE advice says at 'red', the most restrictive level, events that don't check vaccine certificates will be restricted to no more than 25 people.
"If My Vaccine Pass verification is not used: Only gatherings of up to 25 people per defined space can occur."
But the official Unite Against COVID-19 website, run by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, says events that don't use vaccine certificates cannot go ahead whatsoever.
"These places will not be able to operate without a vaccine certificate requirement: events (indoor and outdoor)."
It took more than four hours for officials to provide clarification.
A Unite Against COVID-19 spokesperson said it's because 'outdoor community events' and 'events (indoor/outdoor)' are classified separately by the Government.
"Outdoor community events (such as organised public parades) will be treated as 'gatherings' under the Health Order, and will be subject to the gathering limits for the colour setting they are held in," the spokesperson said.
"General events (indoor/outdoor, e.g. concerts and cinemas) are not able to operate at red or orange if My Vaccine Pass is not used."
The spokesperson said they were working through a "number of queries".
The new COVID Protection Framework, which will replace the current alert level system, comes into effect on December 3. Freedoms will be determined by vaccine certificates and gathering limits depending on what traffic light level each region is at.
At the most restrictive 'red' level, for example, hospitality businesses that agree to use vaccine certificates will be allowed to welcome up to 100 people, but hospitality businesses that opt out of checking passes must be contactless.
The levels at which different parts of New Zealand will move into the new COVID Protection Framework can be found here.
