Pursuant to clause 57 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order 2021 (“Order”), I, Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for COVID-19 Response declare that relevant people (as defined in this notice) are exempt from the following clauses of the Order where they apply to them:

1. clause 14 (requirement to have pre-departure test for COVID-19 or be excused by certificate):
2. clause 15 (must have negative result from pre-departure test for COVID-19 (or certificate))
3. clause 16 (must not be waiting for test results)
4. clause 16A (requirement to not exhibit COVID-19 symptoms):
5. clause 17 (requirement to not be subject to public health direction in another country):
6. clause 18 (must not have prematurely ended period of isolation or quarantine).

This exemption applies to the following class of people (relevant people):

1. people employed as air crew;
2. who are ordinarily resident in New Zealand;
3. who are overseas in the course of their employment as air crew;
4. who test positive for COVID-19: and
5. who are being returned to New Zealand by their employing airline in the course of their employment.

This exemption is subject to the following conditions:

1. that there will be no passengers on board the repatriation flights:
2. that in relation to other aircraft occupants, the air crew member will:
1. travel in a separate part of the cabin:
2. use separate toilet facilities:
3. have no use of the same galley or crew rest.
3. the crew member will wear a N95 mask and shield throughout the flight:
4. other crew members will wear equivalent PPE:
5. there will be separate crew transport at each end of the flight.

Dated this 4th day of April 2022.

Hon CHRIS HIPKINS, Minister for COVID-19 Response.