Health Minister Chris Hipkins has announced QR codes will become mandatory on public transport from 11.59pm on Thursday 3 September.
It followed the recent case of someone infected travelling on a bus, which led the government to also make masks mandatory on public transport.
While ticketing systems can identify some travellers, it is not widespread enough and this is why QR codes are needed, he says. QR codes are a faster way for contract tracing to take place, he says.
The codes will be mandatory for the transport supplier to display, but scanning them is voluntary.
Read back through live updates from 26 August 2020:
The QR codes for the NZ Covid Tracer app will be required from 11.59pm next Thursday 3 September on buses, trains, ride shares and ferries. This will not be enforced by drivers, or transport operators, Hipkins says.
Hipkins says the govt has been working with supermarkets to make sure there are enough masks available.
People should be encouraged to use reusable masks where possible, he says. People can use whatever they find around the house for these, he says.
