Member stories by sector – Covid-19
We are sharing stories about our members’ initiatives in these challenging times. Send your stories to [email protected]
Level 3 updates
BusinessNZ resources for businesses operating at Level 3.
The Ākina Foundation looks at what Alert Level 3 means for social enterprises
The Warehouse Group and Countdown are trialling drive-thru shopping.
Business advice
Catapult has the Covid-19 Leadership Playbook for practical and evidence-based guidance for responding to the leadership challenges of Covid-19 and beyond, and a Discussion Guide for Virtual Meetings.
Porter Novelli has some principles for communicating through uncertain times.
Wright Communications supports the In Case Of Crisis App for internal communications.
Chapman Tripp has published a series providing guidance across many different aspects of business.
Deloitte has guidance for NZ businesses on business entitlements and tax initiatives, and is supporting Pasifika Organisations and Leaders. The global network has a guide for senior executives on resilient leadership.
EY has a number of resources around resilience and uncertainty. A good place to start is Ten better questions to ask in a crisis.
KPMG has questions and answers around the Government economic response package and a guide for executives and directors on the potential impacts. KPMG also hosted a webinar discussing the economic and financial reporting implications of COVID-19, with special guest Donna Purdue, Chief Economist – MBIE.
Kantar has been surveying Kiwis weekly to track the response to COVID-19, and has advice for brands – starting with “look after your staff”.
Fujitsu can help with remote working solutions.
Golder looks at Staying Closer While We’re Apart.
AECOM has launched a virtual public consultation tool. and looks at how coronavirus may change the future of work.
Tech Future Lab talked to TVNZ about how people can retrain for new careers in tech.
HRNZ Strategic Partner Cornerstone OnDemand are sharing their free training on:
- Preventing infection and control
- Promoting self-care and managing stress
- Helping people be productive while working from home.
Business preparedness
Z Energy’s digital and strategic partners Rush Digital and Roger Dennis have created Plan-C, a free business continuity planning tool for companies with fewer than 500 employees.
Ports of Auckland and Z Energy shared their best practice preparations with Newsroom. And Z Energy spoke to Rod Oram about their crisis management lessons.
Food and other consumables
Countdown is encouraging Kiwis to only buy what they need in the short-term and has established contactless deliveries – more information.
Countdown will support small businesses by paying them faster and also by offering rent relief to their tenants. And it has offered instant employment to Flight Centre staff who have been made redundant.
O-I is supporting Good George Brewery with glass bottles for the hand sanitiser it is manufacturing.
Unilever is providing free soap to communities in need around the world and has detailed guidance for staff. It is also helping to protect lives and livelihoods.
Zespri has very detailed information for suppliers and consumers.
The Warehouse Group has launched a contactless Click & Collect with DriveThru trial.
Agriculture
Ravensdown talks about the prize now in sight – emerging stronger than ever.
Energy companies
Simon Mackenzie at Vector talked to Rod Oram about how Vector has responded to Covid-19 and how power use might change in future. Vector on keeping essential services running.
Meridian Energy has donated $1 million to KidsCan, matching the $1 million donated by generous New Zealanders during the 19 for 19 appeal.
Contact Energy, Flick Electric, Genesis, and Meridian are working with Transpower to ensure energy supply, and are all updating their customers on how they can help if they are struggling to pay their bills.
Internet network
New Zealand telco industry is urging consumers to check their home networks , and is creating no-contact retail stores for essential hardware provision during lock-down.
Spark and Vodafone have put in place additional data and capacity for customers in anticipation on increased demand for internet services and have axed broadband data caps. They will not disconnect customers or small businesses who fall behind on their bills during that period.
Spark’s virus planning began in January – Rod Oram. And Spark looked at data and network use during Level 4.
Vodafone has set up a daily checkin to make sure staff are doing ok, and urges customers to be even more security-conscious at this time. Guide to the best apps to stay connected.
Matt Gurr at Aurecon talks about data centres: the “invisible glue” holding our society together.
Jason Paris, CEO of Vodafone, talked to Rod Oram about how Vodafone is moving to a digital future.
Vodafone is providing families that don’t have the internet at Otahuhu College access to it so kids can learn. And has helped Auckland Council to keep running in a time of extremely high pressure.
Vodafone is holding Lounge Jams with well-known NZ musicians, and 10 websites & apps to inspire kids and families during lockdown.
Spark is holding the Spark Sessions for more music on Sunday and Wednesday nights.
Banking and insurance
AMP, ASB, BNZ, and Westpac on how they will keep staff and customers safe and help with financial wellbeing. AA Insurance, Asteron Life and IAG also have good information for customers. Suncorp is supporting Vero and Asteron Life insurance customers and has made $4m worth of hardship funds available to customers.
Suncorp New Zealand is helping children affected by domestic violence stay connected with their schools and online learning through a one-off $100,000 donation to the domestic violence charity, Shine.
If you’re helping people in self-isolation by collecting their groceries, the safest way to transfer money is by internet banking, rather than cash or sharing debit cards. BNZ has a guide for setting up one-off payments.
Engineering
WSP supported the Helen Clark Foundation to look into the impact COVID-19 is having on loneliness in New Zealand and what politicians can do about it.
Transport and freight
Z Energy will take measures to keep you safe at service stations. It has given St John Ambulance a month of free fuel and is supporting the Student Volunteer Army through its Sharetank app.
Air New Zealand has Frequently Asked Questions for travellers.
NZ Post will close its retail outlets while New Zealand is at Level 4. It will make changes to their delivery processes and is providing regular updates on mail delivery – see all updates.
Toll are taking extra precautions around delivery of parcels.
Auckland Transport has set up 17 kilometres of temporary cycleways to enable more people to exercise safely under level 3.
Lyttelton Port Company, Port Marlborough and Ports of Auckland have information about how they are maintaining services.
Aurecon has a guide to Mitigating Heavy Industry Supply Chain Risk – 5 Critical Steps in Responding to the Impacts of COVID-19
Sustainability advice
4Sight, and Toitū Envirocare are updating their clients on how they are operating during the four-week period at level 4.
Social enterprise / arts and culture
Auckland Museum online collections
The Ākina Foundation looks at what Alert Level 3 means for social enterprises
Ākina looks at what the Covid-19 outbreak and the Government economic stimulus package means for enterprises seeking to have impact during the anticipated economic downturn, and have put together a list of useful resources.
Local government
Auckland Council has formed a Mayoral Business Advisory Panel (COVID) to help work through the issues created by the COVID-19 lockdown and to assist the city’s transition back to normal economic activity when the lockdown is lifted.
Auckland Council staff are helping Auckland City Mission make meals for homeless people.
Waikato Regional Council will try to avoid a rates increase this year.
Universities
Massey University has a good online hub for students and staff with latest information. Also see AUT, Victoria University, University of Waikato.
Massey also offers free online courses in Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori
Victoria University will offer free study in Trimester 2 for people affected by Covid-19.
Massey University researchers are looking into lockdown exercise routines. Dr Sarb Johal spoke to the Ministry of Health about mental wellbeing during lockdown, and wrote about getting your head around a four-week lockdown. Dr Kirsty Ross has parenting tips during lockdown.
Dr Courtney Addison at Victoria University of Wellington on how infectious diseases affect communities.
Dr Dougal Sutherland at Victoria University of Wellington urges New Zealanders to keep up the kindness during the second half of the Level 4 lockdown.
Malcolm Foo and Alexander Richter of Victoria University look at the opportunities in a digital future.
See also: SBC and Covid-19
