The State of National Emergency was extended yesterday for a further seven days, causing some to conclude – incorrectly – that meant an extension to the four-week Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown.

Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black took the opportunity at today’s daily COVID-19 briefing to attempt to clear up confusion around the State of National Emergency and the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 measures.

She said that, under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act, a state of emergency expires after seven days after it’s declared, unless it’s extended or terminated earlier.

“The seven-day limit is a safeguard as the powers made available to me as Director, and to local controllers, are far reaching and are only needed when we’re dealing with an emergency,” she said.

States of emergency could be extended as many times as needed.

“But each week we will be applying a stringent check to make sure that we do still require those powers and we meet the tests that are set out in the act.”

The State of Emergency and the Alert Level were two distinct and separate things.

“The Alert Levels specify the range of measures that we are taking against COVID-19. A State of National Emergency provides the people managing the response in an emergency – and in this case COVID-19 – to access powers that they need but would not normally have,” Ms Stuart-Black said.

“The Alert Levels can be applied without a State of Emergency and a State of Emergency can be declared without Alert Levels being used.”

However, the powers made available by the State of Emergency were complementary to the powers under health legislation, and did support and help enforce the measures being applied under Alert Level 4. Examples of that so far had included stopping people doing non-essential activities, and to requisition a car park to be used as a community-based assessment centre. 

She reiterated the need for people to stay home for this four-week, as was being asked of them, to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“We know and recognise we’re asking a lot of New Zealanders when it’s challenging... thank you to everyone for everything you’re doing to help us break the chain of transmission.”