Covid-19 Response

Covid-19 Impact & Now Recovery

Along with many businesses in New Zealand, Rebel Business School Aotearoa is putting its response plan in place. Rebel Business School takes the threat of COVID-19 very seriously and is taking all steps to mitigate the spread of this. Our main priority is keeping our participants and team safe. In the headings below are highlights and updates for our Covid-19 response.

Rebel's Vaccination Position

Rebel Business School Aotearoa has received a high volume of queries regarding the recent announcements from the Government regarding mandating vaccine certificates to attend major events.

The Government has announced that New Zealanders will need to get vaccinated this month to attend festivals and events. While this is a positive development towards allowing our in person business building courses to go ahead, we are still awaiting official information from the Government on how this will be managed and what will be required upon entry to the venues from which we will run any in person business school.

We do know that Vaccination certificates or passports will be required to access future in person courses or events.

Rebel Business School Aotearoa respects that each individual has the right to choose to be vaccinated or not, but it is becoming clear that if you wish to attend an in person Rebel Business School Aotearoa course, you will need to be vaccinated.

We have been working behind the scenes to answer your questions with the limited information we have so far. Our team appreciate your patience and understanding while we navigate through these uncertain times together.

Update as at 04 Apr 22 - Changes to traffic light system announced

New Zealand remains at Red
The Government has received public health advice that now is not yet the time to ease the existing restrictions and drop from Red to Orange. Even though much of the country has likely experienced the peak of the Omicron outbreak, many regions and rural areas around New Zealand are facing an increase in case numbers. The traffic light settings will be reviewed again next week, on Thursday 14 April.

Update as at 20 Mar 22 - Changes to traffic light system announced

At 11.45pm on Friday 25 March, COVID-19 Protection Framework is changing.

New Zealand’s successful management of the Omicron outbreak and high rates of vaccination mean it’s now safe to ease the restrictions that have successfully prevented widespread health

The focus now is to make life simpler and closer to normal but retain the things that are most effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting people.

From 11:59pm on Friday 25 March the COVID-19 Protection Framework will be simpler. It will help us manage life with Omicron while reducing the impact of future outbreaks. The traffic light changes are:

At Red

There will be no limits for outdoor activities, such as gatherings and events, and food and drink businesses. My Vaccine Passes must be used until 11:59pm on 4 April.
There will be a 200-person limit for indoor gatherings and events with My Vaccine Pass.
You do not need to wear a face mask outdoors.
Other face mask rules remain unchanged — face masks are still required in most indoor settings.
There is no requirement to scan in or for a business to display a QR code poster or have mandatory record keeping.

Scanning and record keeping

From 11.59pm this Friday 25 March scanning will no longer be required.
Businesses and locations will no longer need to display QR code posters or have mandatory record keeping systems and processes in place.

For more information:

Go to: https://covid19.govt.nz/

Update as at 20 Mar 22 - Making NZ Safe

Framework Settings
The Framework will continue to protect New Zealanders, while also providing more certainty and new opportunities. It minimises the impact and provides protection from COVID-19 through three settings - Green, Orange and Red.

Red is used if there’s a need to protect both at-risk people and our health system from an unsustainable number of hospitalisations.
Face masks are required in most places including on flights, public transport, in taxis, at retail stores, at public facilities, at cafes, restaurants and bars, when accessing close-proximity services, and at gatherings held in public places. Masks are encouraged elsewhere.

What it means for business

The requirements apply by activity. If your business carries out a number of different activities, you will need to consider how best to meet the requirements for each. For example, a mall may have a food court (food and beverage rules apply), general retail (retail rules), and a supermarket (which people must be able to access without presenting a My Vaccine Pass). If your business carries out a number of different activities that can't be separated, you will need to operate under the more stringent rules. If you can separate operations, you can operate in line with the specific rules within each separate area.
Businesses must display posters advertising if they require people entering to have a My Vaccine Pass
Information on My Vaccine Pass and the verifier app.

Checking My Vaccine Pass

Businesses and services may switch between requiring My Vaccine Passes and not requiring My Vaccine Passes. They will need to clean the premise/space between the two groups, and ensure they follow the appropriate rules relating to the use of My Vaccine Passes or not requiring My Vaccine Passes. You must clearly communicate what settings you are operating under, and display the appropriate signage. For example, a conference venue can host a conference for a small group of people under the unvaccinated rules (including number limits), clean, and they can then host a larger conference for vaccinated attendees.

The capacity limits apply to the premises or a defined space. Limits include all attendees, but not workers.

A defined space is: an indoor area that has no direct airflow to another indoor area that is being used; or an outdoor area that is separated from other outdoor areas by 2 metres. Separate spaces must be managed so that, so far as is reasonably practicable, groups do not mix entering, leaving, or using the premises.
Some capacity limits are based on 1 metre distancing. This means the maximum number of people who could occupy the space if each person was 1 metre apart. People do not need to stand 1 metre apart.
There is one exception to how capacity limits are applied. If you are holding a gathering at a private dwelling or house you only need to adhere to the maximum number limit, regardless of the size of the house.
For some types of businesses there are lower capacity limits if they do not require a My Vaccine Pass, than if they do. If you have a group of people that has both people with My Vaccine Pass (or children under 12), and people without, you must adhere to the lower capacity limit.
Workers include anyone required to operate the business or service, and therefore includes paid and unpaid.

The COVID-19 Resource Toolkit has resources and signage you can easily download and use depending on what level of the COVID-19 Protection Framework your business is in.
COVID-19 Resource Toolkit(external link) — Unite against COVID-19

Update as at 2 Feb 22 - NZ GOES RED

As we enter our third year of dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic let's hope that it becomes easier and 2022 is a bit more settled as we learn to live with covid in the community. You will be well aware by now that we are at the red level in the Covid Protection Framework - read on for details about where to find the most up-to-date information on how to operate your business at the new settings.
Please click on the link for more information:
What you need to know:

We are now at Red in the COVID-19 Protection Framework (Traffic Light System)
The Ministry of Health's COVID-19 website is the best source of information on life at Red
Business.govt.nz has the most up-to-date information on how to operate businesses and events at Red
The Traffic Light system operates by activity. Check what is required for each activity; you may need to do different things in different parts of your business if you have multiple offerings
The Ministry of Health website has guidance on what to do if your business becomes a location of interest
For information on what to do if one of your employees has to self-isolate see the Department of Labour website
Check out the IRD website to find out about support schemes for your business and employees, or click here to find out about support you can get if your employees need to self-isolate
Crucially, you need to have a plan to manage the impact of cases of Omicron on your business.

The Traffic Light System Clarified (so far)... 22 Nov 21

Update as at 6 September 2021

New Zealand outside Auckland to move to Alert Level 2
All of New Zealand, except Auckland, will move to Alert Level 2 from 11.59pm, Tuesday 7 September.
Auckland will stay at Alert Level 4 until 11.59pm on Tuesday September 14.
Delta has changed the rules of the game, we need everyone to keep playing their part. Across the country, everyone is helping to stamp out Delta in different ways.
Cabinet will review the levels for the whole country, including Auckland, on Monday 13 September.
Alert Level 2 looks different as settings have been strengthened due to Delta. There are several new requirements:

Everyone aged 12 and over must legally keep a record of where they have been when visiting certain places such as restaurants, cinemas, concerts, churches, and close-contact businesses like hairdressers.
A limit of 50 people applies for indoor gatherings, hospitality settings and event venues, 100 people for outdoor settings.

Keep 2 metres apart from people you do not know in public, and places like retail stores, libraries, gyms and museums
Face coverings are mandatory for everyone aged 12 and over in indoor public facilities like libraries, museums and shopping malls.
Face coverings are mandatory for customer-facing staff at hospitality venues and public facilities.

At Alert Level 2 – there’s still work to do. Everyone has a role to play in stopping the spread.
For more information on Alert Level 2 requirements, go to Unite Against COVID-19.

Update as at 23 August 2021

Alert Level 4 has been extended
New Zealand will continue at Alert Level 4 until Friday 27 August at 11.59pm, with a review on the same day. Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4 until 11.59pm Tuesday 31 August. This will be reviewed on Monday 30 August.
Government Business Support
The Government roll out of business support is well underway for those affected by the current Alert Level 4 lockdown, and new information is being released regularly. Here is a list of important links for businesses for COVID-19 information:

The Government has also announced that mandatory recordkeeping is being introduced for busy places and events to ensure the Government can contact trace quickly. This requirement will come into effect 7 days after the next Alert Level change. This will provide businesses and other locations time to ensure they have record keeping systems and processes in place. More information can be found here.

update as at 20 August 2021

All of New Zealand will remain at Alert Level 4 until at least 11.59pm on Tuesday August 24 as the full scale of the Delta outbreak is not yet known. On Monday, Government will have more information to inform a decision on next steps in relation to Alert Levels.
By then, many contacts will have returned results for a day 5 test. Negative results will indicate the risk of community transmission is low. The current outbreak isn’t just isolated to Auckland – there are cases in Wellington who recently travelled to Auckland and visited a location of interest there.
The Government will review current Alert Levels on Monday August 23.

Update as at 13 August 2021

NOTE THE ACCELERATED ROLLOUT DATES
See the table opposite
LATEST UPDATES: TIME BETWEEN DOSES
12 August 2021 The standard time between the first and second dose of the vaccine will now be 6 weeks or more. Media release: Time between doses of COVID-19 vaccine extended

Everyone in New Zealand can get a free vaccine
The Government has secured enough Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) for everyone in New Zealand aged 16 and over to get the two doses they need against COVID-19. They are 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.

update as at 27 June 2021

Wellington is at Alert Level 2.
1. Alert Level 2 for the Wellington region is extended until 11.59pm on Tuesday 29 June.
2. Quarantine-free travel from Australia is paused until 11.59pm (NZT) on 29 June.

Update as at 23 June 2021

From 6:00pm tonight, the Greater Wellington region (including Otaki, Waikawa Beach, Manakau, Wairarapa, and Kapiti Coast) moves to Alert Level 2. The rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 1. This measure will remain in place until 11:59pm Sunday 27 June.
We are currently in Kapiti on Day 8 of our signature 10-Day Business School. We are able to comply with the current Covid-19 Level 2 Restrictions for the balance of the programme.

Rebel Business School commences in Te Kaha on Monday 28th June and will comply with local Covid-19 regulations.

While travel is not restricted under Alert Level 2, remember to take your alert level behaviours with you when travelling out of the Wellington region to the rest of New Zealand. This will help us to keep each other safe.
At Alert Level 2, you can go to work and school, but you should follow public health measures and consider others around you. If you can work from home, you are encouraged to do so.

Please practise physical distancing – stay two metres apart in public places, and in retail stores like supermarkets and clothes shops – and at least one metre in most other places like workplaces, cafes, restaurants and gyms.
Gatherings are limited to 100 people at Alert Level 2. This includes weddings, birthdays, funerals, tangihanga and church services.
Businesses can remain open but public health guidance including public health rules, physical distancing, scanning in with your NZ COVID-19 Tracer app need to be maintained and the cap of 100 people adhered to.
Hospitality venues can open but must apply the 'three S's’: Seated, Separated and Single Server.
Wear a face covering on all public transport – it is compulsory – but please also wear one when waiting for public transport and in taxis and rideshare services too. Wearing a face covering is also strongly recommended in all indoor settings where you don’t know people, such as retail outlets, events and in any situation where physical distancing is not possible.

A reminder about Covid-19 support available.

Free COVID-19 Business Helpline
The helpline is dedicated to COVID-19 business support and employment advice.
0800 500 362

Short-Term Absence Payment
The COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment is available for employers, including self-employed people, to help pay their employees who cannot work from home while they wait for a COVID-19 test result.
Learn more here

Leave Support Scheme
If you have staff (or you're self-employed) who need to self-isolate and can't work from home, you may be able to get the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme.
Learn more here

Update as at 5 April 2021

It has been a roller coaster the past two months. Lockdown levels between Auckland and the rest of the country has played havoc with small businesses across Aotearoa. And yet here we are as a team of 5 million on Level 1. Many of us have whanau in different countries which makes us realise that even with the difficulties we have fought hard for this freedom. And yet we need to be vigilant.

We have now completed four business schools in different parts of Aotearoa and we have just completed a rebrand from PopUp Business School to the Rebel Business School. Like many businesses in Aotearoa we have reviewed our business model and looked at what we had to do as a business to not only survive, but to thrive in adverse times.

Our mission remains the same. To provide a business course filled with passion and practicality enabling people of all ethnicities to build their business dream and to learn how to do that for FREE. For more on what we do please go to the ABOUT webpage.

UPDATE AS AT 28 FEBUARY 2021

Porirua Rebel Business School to continue in venue.
Update 1: The Prime Minister confirmed that Auckland will go to Alert Level 3 as of 6am today 28/2/2021 and the rest of New Zealand Alert Level 2. This will be for 7 days.
The venue for the Porirua course have confirmed that we will be able to maintain Physical distancing and carry out the course safely. There will be sanitiser and masks available and participants will be spaced out to ensure their safety and compliance with the current alert level.
1) We actively encourage those who are comfortable to wear masks.
2) A reminder that if you are unwell please stay home.
3) We will update you tomorrow on the tradeshow/graduation ceremony but please proceed as normal for now.

UPDATE AS AT 17 FEBUARY 2021

West / Central Rebel Business School to remain online this week.
Update 2: The Prime Minister confirmed that Auckland will go to Alert Level 2 as of midnight tonight Wednesday 17/2/2021.
We have spoken with Auckland Unlimited who have confirmed that we can have the venue (Fickling Convention Centre) from Monday 22/2/2021. This will allow time for:
1) Attendees with children who may be returning to school; and
2) Auckland City Council for ensuring timely and safe venue access.
This means that Rebel Business School Aotearoa will complete week 1 online as normal. Week 2 will be at the venue.

Update 1: What a few days it has been. We started day 1 on 16/2/21 and had 52 attendees (business entrepreneurs) online. A massive shout out to all those who attended. We will return to venue as soon as we are able with Covid restrictions as necessary.

The Porirua event is due to start on Monday 22/2/2021 at the Te Rauparaha Arena Covid restrictions at Level 2 permitting. The Waikato District Council event is all online and is due to commence on 8/3/2021.

Update as at 15 FebUARY 2021

LOCKDOWN
ANNOUNCED

Auckland will move to Covid-19 alert level 3 from 11.59 tonight (Sunday 14th Feb 2021) for three days.

The rest of New Zealand will be at level 2 over the same time period, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who made the announcement tonight. She said those alert levels will be reviewed every 24 hours but the planned three-day lockdown should allow the Government to get more information about the new community outbreak. Source: nzherald.co.nz

Please see below a summary of the different levels.

OPTIONS - WEST/CENTRAL REBEL BUSINESS SCHOOL going online

If you are an attendee at the West/Central Rebel Business School at the Fickling Convention Centre please note the following:

As a consequence of the lockdown announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern the Rebel Business Course will be moving online and will now start a day later on Tuesday 16th February at 9.30am. Please join by 9.15am. Attendees will need to connect to the course from your home computer.

If you have signed up you will have received an email with all the details.

As we have started a day later, we will be having an extra day on Saturday 20th February. This session will be our web building day, where we cover how to create a website with Weebly.

While we are starting online please note we will move to the venue if and as soon as the alert levels allow.

If you have any questions please email us at: hello@rebelbusinessschool.nz

Update as at 21 August 2020

Today we learn more about the Governments thinking about our alert levels. Irrespective, it does beg a question about how we are tracking globally. Every day newsroom. deliver a summary of statistics. Remember that rumours do not help. Always look for guidance from reliable sources: https://covid19.govt.nz/
From the same newsroom. article, below is a reminder of our current Alert level restrictions.

UPDATE AS AT 12 AUGUST 2020

deferred - West/Central rebel Business School

With the latest announcements by government regarding the latest Covid-19 outbreak and the move to Level 3 in Auckland, ATEED, in conjunction with the local boards sponsoring this event, have requested that we defer the Rebel Business School. We will advise more dates as soon as we know more.

Update as at 11 August 2020

Covid-19 cases in auckland - NZ Inc goes to lockdown

New Zealand's Alert Levels are changing at 12 noon on Wednesday 12 August. Auckland will move to Alert Level 3, and the rest of NZ will move to Alert Level 2. Tonight (11/8/20) the Prime Minister and Director General of Health announced that New Zealand has had four cases of COVID-19 outside of a managed isolation or quarantine facility in New Zealand.

For all official government information about this development see here: https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-resources/latest-updates/new-zealands-alert-levels-are-changing-at-12-noon-on-wednesday-12-august/

The Auckland region will move to Alert Level 3 from midday tomorrow, Wednesday 12th August, for the next three days until midnight Friday 14th August. The geographic boundary is that of the Auckland Super City.
Travel will be limited to within the Auckland region. Mask use is highly recommended.

The rest of New Zealand will move to Alert Level 2 and this will run through till midnight on Friday 14th August. This means social distancing measures will apply. Mass gathering limited to 100 people. All other guidance about Level 2 will apply. The Prime Minister noted mask use is encouraged in public places, if you can.

As soon as we have more information, we will advise further.

auckland - Level 3

Rest of New Zealand - Level 2

Alert System overview.

Update as at 12 june 2020
Level 1 achieved but what now!

There is no silver bullet for the recovery but we think that as a country we are positioned for positive change as long as we are proactive. Businesses will still suffer. The impact on personal health for business owners is serious; as is the financial capability of a business to not only survive, but to thrive.
Our Rebel Business School has just finished week 1 for our first event in Wellington online. What we know is that there is a hunger for small business in New Zealand. It is our job to enable those who have a business dream to have a chance, to have a real 'shot' at building a sustainable business.
It is also our job to provide tools, process and knowledge to support that dream; and in this ethos , we believe, is hope. Hope for a new and yet to be realised future for our budding business owners.
BTW... #teamof5million... it is all of our jobs... to be kind and supportive to those who have a dream of being in business for themselves and to those who are rebuilding their businesses. They might not be a start-up but they are starting again in the 'new normal'.
#teamof5million... it is all of our jobs to be there for them.

update as at 26 may 2020

Rebuilding communities through small business.
As we progress down the Covid-19 response levels we are pleased to advise that events have been confirmed by Wellington City Council and Kapiti Coast District Council. In addition to our council partners, we are grateful to the WellingtonNZ and the Ministry of Social Development for collaborating in the funding of these events so our attendees can come for FREE.

More information on these events

Update as at 15 May 2020

alert Level 2

Yay!! New Zealand moved to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm on Wednesday 13 May. Well done New Zealand Inc. Now we have to be extra vigilant, So what does Alert Level 2 mean? Click on the Level 2 icon or the links in this paragraph to get the very latest on Alert Level 2.

We are back!!! and co-working

Yes the team is working between home and our Rebel Co-working space. If you or someone you know would like to know more about collaborating in our Co-working space in central Wellington, please get them to email us at hello@rebelbusinessschool.nz. or go to our Contact page.
More information about the Rebel Co-working Space can be found here.

The Budget

To round off a great week, on the 14 June 2020 Finance Minister Grant Robertson released a Budget document for a 'once-in-a-generation' event. Budget 2020 - Rebuilding Together details can be found here.

In our darkest moments the country has done wonders. Budget 2020 seeks to find balance and create a platform for New Zealanders while the full economic and social impact of Covid-19 is still unfolding.
At Rebel Business School we also have been impacted with course postponements and as a consequence we, like many other businesses have had to navigate very, very stormy financial seas.
For our part we are grateful that the government gave us a lifeline.
Now it is our job to take that lifeline and do something with it that benefits Aotearoa.

Update as at 30 April 2020

The last few weeks at Level 4 and the transition into Level 3 has in many ways provided a reset for Rebel Business School.

We have this week formalised the delivery of Rebel Business School to online courses and have started the process of communicating that to our partners.
- We now have 5, 7 and 10 days business school courses
- and are proud to announce that the 1-day Business Blitz is now also online.
We have been connecting weekly with our Alumni (Graduates from the Business School) through the weekly webinar.
We have driven forward on our Alumni Spotlight programme. So exciting that we get a chance to share some amazing Alumni success stories.

Update as at 6 April 2020

Rebel Business School Aotearoa has released the following information for its Alumni:

It is introducing a weekly Alumni webinar to provide connectivity to our graduate community. The webinar will be on Zoom and provide insight, support and encouragement to this small business community, graduates of the Rebel Business School Aotearoa. The first webinar on 8/4/2020 involves web/seo activity, business model planning and spotlight on small business owners and their Lockdown experience. Future sessions will include end of financial year and start of financial year activities, marketing via social media and a business planning spotlight session. Needless to say there will be more sessions led by our Alumni suggestions. Details are in the closed Alumni Facebook Group.
For small business wanting to work on their business model, we have access to the Bizezi web application. Bizezi is a business planning tool that can be used by an entrepreneur or business owner to research their business idea and understand their market and their value proposition and more. There is also a Business Challenge to give some fun to entrepreneurs during this time. For information on the challenge please go to: Bizezi 90 Day business Challenge.

In conjunction with the Rebel Business School UK the following resources are available to all small business to support them during this pandemic; to provide information for businesses to survive and when markets start to turn, that they will be ready:

Very grateful to team at Rebel Business School UK for their important work and for providing these resources for all budding or existing small business owners everywhere.

Update as at 23 March 2020

With the imminent move to Alert Level 4 the Rebel Business School Aotearoa will close its Rebel Co-working Space. The Rebel team will be working from home for the foreseeable future. We are still contactable and will be working on projects. Please go to our contact page or please email us at hello@rebelbusinessschool.nz to reach out to the team at any time.

update as at 17 march 2020

Due to the COVID-19 situation and recent government advice and in conjunction with our funding partners we have made the decision to postpone the upcoming Rebel event due to be held at the Fickling Convention starting on Monday 23rd March. There will be NO workshops run at the Fickling Convention Centre.

New dates will be posted on our website as soon as possible.

rebel WEST/CENTRAL HAS BEEN POSTPONED - NEW DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON OUR WEBSITE ASAP!

rebel business school alumni

Our alumni programme numbers 800+ strong. We ask that alumni and their families look out for each other and stay safe during this time.

The Business Plan blitz

This special one-day event was due to take place on Saturday 21st March in Wellington - this has now been postponed with a new date yet to be announced.

being safe

PREVENTION – HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS

Cough or sneeze into your elbow or by covering your mouth and nose with tissues.
Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately.
Wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds).
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Avoid personal contact, such as kissing, sharing cups or food with sick people.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs.
Stay home if you feel unwell.
Call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if you have any symptoms and have been to any countries or territories of concern or have been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19.

Please visit the Ministry of Health website for further details:
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

Take care of yourselves and your family.
The Rebel Business School Team.

the rebel response​to covid-19​​