The COVID-19 Protection Framework, also known as the traffic light system, was a response mechanism used by New Zealand to manage the pandemic through varying levels of restrictions based on vaccination and community transmission rates. It included three settings: Red, Orange, and Green, dictating the extent of restrictions on gatherings, businesses, and public activities based on regional COVID-19 risk levels.
This framework was introduced to replace the previous four-tier alert level system at the end of 2021, aiming to provide more freedoms for vaccinated individuals and to simplify the management of COVID-19 with the Omicron variant being a significant consideration.
However, on 12 September 2022, New Zealand officially ended the COVID-19 Protection Framework as part of its evolving pandemic response strategy. With this change, most COVID-19 rules were lifted, marking a significant shift towards managing COVID-19 with fewer restrictions. The government then moved to a simpler system focusing on isolation for positive cases and mask-wearing in specific settings, especially healthcare facilities. This decision was based on the country's low case and hospitalization rates, high vaccination coverage, and the availability of antiviral medicines, allowing New Zealand to adapt its approach to living with COVID-19.
