Wellington: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday that New Zealand will switch to the new Covid-19 traffic light system on December 3, allowing companies and events to reopen to vaccinated Kiwis.

At 12 p.m. on December 2, the entire country will transition to the Covid-19 Protection Framework, making December 3 the first day the traffic light system will be operational, Ardern said at a post-cabinet press conference. Green, orange, and red are the three layers of the simplified framework. Vaccine certificates will give each level more freedom.

According to sources, the new traffic light system will allow businesses formerly deemed high-risk to completely open to vaccinated consumers at green and orange, while continuing to operate with certain limitations at red. Businesses who chose to open their doors to the unvaccinated would face restrictions, according to Ardern, in order to suppress the infection among people most likely to be infected.

"By announcing the date now, people, communities, and businesses will have enough time to plan for a safe and successful transition to the new traffic signal system." The prime minister stated that decisions on which colour each region would move into will be verified on November 29, allowing regions more time to increase immunisation rates. "Auckland will start in the Red zone. Other regions' settings will be determined by considerations such as vaccination levels, but cabinet has already stated that no region will begin at Green while we transition and manage the present outbreak "she said.

New Zealand gives Thailand APEC Chairmanship: Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand PM calls for equitable, sustainable post-Covid recovery

APEC CEO Summit: PM Ardern Calls For Cooperation To Achieve Recovery