Ministry of Social Development (18.08.2020) We're working hard to make sure clients who are out of the country and are unable to return because of the COVID-19 pandemic are financially supported. When you leave New Zealand temporarily some payments stop straight away, some are paid for up to 28 days, and New Zealand Super and Veteran's Pension is paid for up to 26 weeks. Under a COVID-19 special assistance programme we're able to make your payments until you can return to New Zealand. This programme is currently only available until 20 October 2020.

Ministry of Social Development (17.08.2020) The Government has announced a new payment, the Resurgence Wage Subsidy. It’s a two-week payment for businesses who have had, or expect to have, a revenue drop of at least 40% because of COVID-19 for a continuous 14 day period between 12 August to 10 September compared to a similar period last year, and aren’t getting the Wage Subsidy, Wage Subsidy Extension or the Leave Support Scheme.

The subsidy is for 2-weeks from the day you submit your application, and will be paid at a flat rate of:

Ministry of Social Development (18.08.2020) The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme (used to be 'COVID-19 Essential Workers Leave Support') is available for employers, including sole traders, to pay their employees who can't work. This means your employees: can't come into work because they are in one of the affected groups and Ministry of Health guidelines recommend they stay at home, and can't work from home.

The Leave Support Scheme will be paid at a flat rate of:

Ministry of Social Development (10.06.2020) The Wage Subsidy Extension is an 8-week payment for qualifying businesses who have had a 40% decline in revenue because of COVID-19 for a continuous 30 day period compared to a similar period last year.