New Zealanders will have one month to receive the vaccine, or risk the sack due to a strict new mandate.
Prime Minister Jacinda Adern announced Tuesday that 40% of the country’s workforce must have been fully vaccinated by November 31st.
People who work in hairdressers and bars, nail salons or bars, as well as those who work in restaurants and bars, could lose their jobs.
Ms Ardern stated that by asking people who come in close contact with customers to get vaccinated, it would reduce the risk for community transmission of Covid-19.

Jacinda Ardern announced Tuesday that 40% of New Zealand’s workforce must have their vaccines up to November 31st (pictured: a cafe worker in Auckland).
This requirement ensures that teachers and staff are treated equally. It will play a significant part in the future. In helping to minimize the spread of virus in high-risk locations by reducing the potential Covid to enter business in the first instance,’ she stated.
“If customers have to be vaccinated, then the workers must also be vaccinated.”
The mandate comes just weeks following the request from teachers and healthcare workers, who make up around 15% of the country’s workforce, to get the jab.
Doctors, pharmacists nurses, healthcare workers, and doctors must be fully vaccinated before December 31st, while teachers and education staff can wait until January 31st.
In an effort to end lockdowns, the New Zealand government will strive to vaccinate 90% of eligible people aged 12 and older.
Businesses that come in close contact with residents will also require them to show their vaccination passports.
Judith Collins, the opposition leader, said that the restriction was unnecessary once vaccination targets have been met.

Ms. Ardern (pictured) stated that by asking people who come into close contact with customers to get vaccinated, it would reduce the risk for community transmission of Covid-19

The mandate comes just weeks following teachers and healthcare workers, which account for about 15% of the country’s workforce, were asked to get vaccinated (pictured in Wellington CBD).
‘Some businesses will require proof that they have been vaccinated. Others will not,’ the Nationals leader stated.
Auckland will be released from lockdown after the District Health Boards of the city have vaccinated 90% of the eligible population by the end of November.
The city will then become part of the new traffic lights system, entering at’red settings’. Businesses will have to adhere to vaccine mandates.
Once they have reached the 90 per cent double dose rate, regions will be able to join capital cities.
Ms Ardern explained that the new traffic light system allows businesses that were previously high risk such as hotels, hairdressers and gyms to operate at all levels, provided they have a certificate from a vaccine.
Current restrictions on Auckland and Covid-hit areas of the Waikato region are at level 3 of New Zealand’s four-tier restrictions. Non-essential retail is closed.
Level 2 restrictions on retail space in the rest of the country have been lifted.

People who work in hairdressers, nail salons or bars are at risk of losing their jobs.
New Zealand had 74 Covid cases recorded on Thursday. Residents in Christchurch anxiously await to hear if South Island will enter a snap lockdown.
Officials are trying to track down a couple who tested positive for Covid-19 overnight.
Authorities believe one of the unvaccinated pair could be infected for up to two weeks with one other household as close contacts.
This announcement comes just one week after Professor Paul Kelly announced that the Australian government has reopened quarantine free travel from New Zealand’s South Island, which had previously seen no cases since last January.
The national chief medical officer announced that quarantine-free travel would be possible for fully vaccinated South Island-based Kiwis, and returning Aussies, on October 19.

On Thursday, New Zealand had 74 new Covid cases. Health officials were scrambling to locate a Covid-infected couple from Christchurch. (pictured, lines to get vaccinated at Auckland).
Travellers arriving from the Covid-ravaged North Island may still spend 14 days in quarantine before being released. This is until November 1.
South Island Kiwis who fly across the Tasman from South Island must submit a negative Covid test within 72hrs of departure. They must also show proof that they are fully vaccinated, and that they have not been to North Island in the past 14 days.
The so-called green-lane travel bubble between Australia & New Zealand has been suspended since July. New Zealand had suspended the trans-Tasman balloon in July due to growing cases from NSW and Victoria.
There are many areas that are Covid-free in both countries, including Wellington and South Island. However, the government has yet to open the bubble.
This news comes after the New Zealand government suggested last week that it might relax international border rules before Christmas.
While New Zealand has maintained a hard border while it pursued an elimination strategy, the unwilling acceptance of ongoing cases in the community has led to the government rethinking its border policy.
Prime Minister Jacinda Adern appears to be easing the 14-day quarantine hotel stay – locally known as MIQ – upon arrival.
Chris Hipkins, Covid-19 Minister said last week that they are currently reviewing their MIQ settings due to the fact that it is unlikely we will get back at zero cases.
“You can expect us to talk more about that fairly soon.”