Traffic Light System Update

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24th November 2021

As per the governments announcements on Monday afternoon, please note the following:

New Zealand to Enter the New Traffic Light System on 3rd December

The whole country will be moving into the new system at 11.59 on 2nd December (effectively from Friday 3rd December):

  • Auckland will enter at the RED level
  • Other regions will start in the ORANGE or RED level depending on regional vaccination levels
  • No regions will go directly to GREEN

Auckland Hair Dressers and Barbers to Trial the New System

Hair dressers and barbers in Auckland will be allowed to open from Thursday 25th November to trial the new vaccination passport system. This is a trial of the system for this industry only, so unfortunately it does not mean that we can do hair & make up on set yet.

PS! Once we enter the new traffic light system on 3rd December, it is expected that all productions that use vaccination passports will be able to do Close Proximity work (although with appropriate PPE and hygiene measures in place).

Revised Screen Industry Protocols for the Traffic Light System

ScreenSafe are working hard to revise the Screen Industry protocols in line with the new Traffic Light System. Since we are still waiting for further government guidance about the new system, including the new legislation in regards to workplace vaccinations, the final protocols may not be ready by the 3rd of December. However we aim to issue enough guidance so that productions will still be able to operate safely from the 3rd of December.

Your Vaccination Passport

If you are double vaccinated you are now able to get your vaccination passport. You must have this in order to attend a vaccination passport shoot.

For more information, please go to this link: https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/

NZ Pass Verifier App

This is the official Ministry of Health phone app to verify if someone is fully vaccinated (or has a medical exemption). It is now available to download on any Apple or Android phone.

You can find more information HERE.

Sincerely,
The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group

Link to full release here in PDF.

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Screen Industry Guidance – Likely Implementation of the Traffic Light System

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Red traffic light against clouds in the sky

17 November 2021

As announced today, it is expected that on the 29th of November, Cabinet will move both Auckland AND the rest of the country into the RED Traffic Light System “shortly thereafter”.

ScreenSafe are currently rewriting the Screen Industry COVID-19 Protocols in line with the new COVID-19 Protection Framework (aka the Traffic Light System). While that work is underway and while we await more detailed information from the government, MoH and WorkSafe, ScreenSafe has prepared the below initial guidance so our industry can start the mental shift to a new system.

Disclaimer: The below guidance is not official and final advice for implementation, but are assumptions based on the information provided by the government so far. Should additional information be provided, we will issue further guidance.

Read guidance here.

Sincerely,

The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group

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Looking for a Laugh

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I normally go surfing and garden as my stress release mechanisms. Neither have been of much help with all the rain we are having (I live in the Waitakeres) and the West Coast of Auckland is offering up limited opportunities at this time. Thank goodness the dams are full, though.

Today, however, I went looking for a laugh because I thought it would be beneficial to have some light relief amongst the collective depression many of us are experiencing due to this latest lockdown.

There’s a lot of gallows humour out there about COVID. I certainly chuckled but it’s not ray-of-sunshine stuff, so passed on the idea of including anything I came across, copyright issues aside.

Something I have done in the past for LOL entertainment is to watch Live At The Apollo on YouTube. Britain’s comedic best never fails to get me going.

This lockdown around, I’ve been watching more YouTube videos for distraction and learning than ever before. I’ve also been surfing vicariously on it. My virtual holiday to Bali and the Mentawais in Indonesia every day gets me over the West Coast doldrums. I now understand why YouTube is up there with TV1 and Netflix as one of the most popular choices for Kiwis 15+.

I was talking to a director yesterday about another matter and they told me they’d taken up drawing as a means to combat the funk. This person isn’t the only one who’s said in recent times that their creative output for work has suffered. And I’m struggling myself to get excited about ideas that would normally have me fizzing and putting fingers to keyboard.

The frustration with our current situation is palpable. All you have to do is watch/read/listen to the news. I’m often reminded, though, how fortunate we continue to be in comparison to the US, the UK and even Australia. I listen to a number of international podcasts and the presenters have essentially been in lockdown and nowhere near their workplaces for the last two years. Granted, our lockdown is stricter… but still.

What I’m clearly talking about here is mental health and wellbeing. Mine, yours, everybody’s. The longer this goes on the greater the need for us to look after ourselves and others in ways that lift our mental, and our physical, states.

Laughter may not be the panacea for all our psychological ills, but it is good medicine. So find a way to bring a smile, have a chuckle, or get yourself rolling on the floor in paroxysms. You’ll feel better for it. For those who need real help, here is a list of resources on offer.

In the meantime… Knock, knock!

Best response wins a Do The Right Thing campaign bag from us and will go in the next newsletter.

 

Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director

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Postponement Update: Directors Toolkit for Emerging Pan-Asian Directors

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I’m sorry to share with you all that we are going to need to postpone the Directors Toolkit for Emerging Pan-Asian Directors. The likelihood of Auckland reaching Level 2 before November 20-21 (the event dates) looks improbable.

Since our last workshop update, the Government has announced the new Covid-19 Protection Framework. Once 90% of eligible Aucklanders are fully-vaccinated, Auckland can expect to move to Red. From our perspective, Auckland will most likely move to Red from Level 3.

If Auckland moves to Red, there is a chance that we’ll be able to host the workshop in-person in mid-December with actions to keep participants and staff safe. Rob Sarkies is Wellington-based so, if regional travel is restricted, we are well-equipped to have Rob teach via video call to a room of participants.

Based on public health advice, you can expect safety actions to include:

  • Staying home if you are sick or required to self-isolate
  • Mandatory face coverings
  • Record keeping and QR scanning
  • Physical distancing
  • Proof of vaccination

More on the last point — to hold the workshop at Red, we would need to use vaccination certificates. As of today, DEGANZ is waiting for further advice from ScreenSafe before we make that decision. If Rob Sarkies is on video call, we will have a Zoom option for participants who are either unvaccinated or would feel more comfortable attending online.

In summary, this is an indication of what we anticipate as of today, and this could change as new public health advice emerges.

Finally, we will most likely need to reduce the class size slightly (12 – 15 people) depending on venue size and physical distancing requirements. As we will only consider applicants who have completed their applications, please remember to apply if you wish to be considered. I am extending the final application deadline to Monday 8 November, 9AM.

Thank you for your understanding.

Kia kaha,

Tema Pua
Events & Marketing Manager

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Legal Advice for Screen Work at Alert Level 3 (Phase 3) in Auckland

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19th October 2021

ScreenSafe has been seeking clarity about the practical implications of Alert Level 3 (Phase 3) in Auckland.

We have done an in-depth comparison of the available public guidance compared to the ScreenSafe COVID-19 Protocols and have also sought WorkSafe and Legal advice.

See information here.

Ngā mihi,

Kelly Lucas

Executive Officer
Screen Industry Guild Aotearoa New Zealand Inc.
(Previously the NZ Film & Video Technicians’ Guild Inc.)

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