Covid 19 - Government assistance

Business Support
Support for businesses and workers has been triggered following a rise in alert levels to combat COVID-19 in the community.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme
The Wage Subsidy is available to eligible businesses, organisations and the self-employed impacted by the move to Alert Level 4 on 17 August 2021.

The rates have been increased to reflect the increase in wage costs since the scheme was first used in March 2020. Businesses will be eligible for $600 per week per full-time equivalent employee, and $359 per week per part-time employee. The Wage Subsidy will be paid as a two-week lump sum. Applications open on Friday 20 August with the first payments usually available after three days.

The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) is a payment to help support businesses or organisations with one-off costs due to a COVID-19 alert level increase to level 2 or higher. Information on the RSP can soon be found on Inland Revenue’s website.

A Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) is available if firms incur a loss of 30 percent of revenue as a result of the Alert Level increase. The RSP is worth up to $1500 plus $400 per full-time equivalent employee, up to a maximum of 50 full-time employees (so up to a total of $21,500).

Other existing support for individuals includes:

Leave Support Scheme: provides a two-week lump sum payment of either $585.80 per week for full-time workers, or $350 per week for part-time workers, who must self-isolate and cannot work from home.

The Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP): provides a one-off (once per 30 days) $350 payment for workers who must miss work due to a COVID-19 test and cannot work from home.

More information is available here.

Learn more about Doing Business at ALERT LEVEL 4
•    Businesses able to operate
•    Posters and resources for businesses

Health and Wellbeing
We know lockdowns can be a stressful time. Its important to look after yourself and your employees. See below resources and where to go for help:
•    Need to talk 1737 Free call or text anytime
•    Free tools, Resources and apps and other digital resources are available to help you look after your mental wellbeing.

For more Covid-19 information please visit Covid-19 Government Website

Free business support for now and the future

Has your business been impacted by COVID-19? We can help. 

The Eastern Bay of Plenty Chamber of Commerce team of Business Advisors will provide some certainty in these challenging times, by giving you direction, advice and support when you need it most. This can be anything - from gaining access to the current Government tools to help your business get through the lockdown period, to helping you plan for a post-lockdown world and ensuring your business is adapting to the current climate. 
 
This service is free of charge, and available for businesses and organisations in the Bay of Plenty (you don’t have to be a Chamber member to access this).  

If you are based in Eastern Bay of Plenty, please contact 07 219 3827 or covidsupport@ebopchamber.co.nz
If you are based in the Western Bay of Plenty, please contact 0800 BIZ HUB (0800 249 482) or info@tauranga.org.nz
If you are based in Central Bay of Plenty, please contact 021 837 8222 or covidsupport@rotoruachamber.co.nz

During the Covid-19 lockdown the Whakatane Salvation Army Food Bank is still operating. People can ring 073086923 (available between 10am - 2pm, Monday to Friday), where they will be interviewed via phone and then asked to collect from the premises at an arranged time. Please remember assistance with food is available upon assessment. Clients requiring food assistance must first approach Work and Income for a food grant. However, if declined, they must then have a letter from WINZ and can then phone the Salvation Army. We appreciate all the work the Salvation Army are putting in over this time, so please be patient.

We understand that Work and Income are under immense pressure at this time and people may find it hard to get through. As an alternative, people who have registered with My MSD can apply for a food grant online here: https://my.msd.govt.nz/ . If you have not registered, you can register online and you will need to confirm your registration by phone.

For Kawerau residents, House of Hope also provide food parcels on a Wednesday. In order to access this service you will need to also go through the WINZ process first.
If you need assistance to apply for a food grant please phone the new Bay of Plenty Civil Defence helpline on 0800 884 222. They have said the call centre is able to assist with advice on foodbanks. We also have our hard-working team at Pou Whakaaro ready to assist, please email admin@pouwhakaaro.co.nz or phone 073088170 for information.