COVID-19 business assistance
Information on financial help available to businesses affected by COVID-19.
See 6 types of COVID-19 business support on this page
Regional Business Partner Network (COVID-19 support)
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Callaghan Innovation
The RBP network can support you in both business recovery and growth. Businesses can access resources and support in areas such as: HR, health and wellbeing, business continuity, cashflow and finance management, strategy and digital capability. As well as support for management training services to build capability.
What it's about
Supporting businesses to recover and grow, with a range of resources such as expert advisory services.
Who it's for
Businesses who are GST registered, have a New Zealand Businesses Number and fewer than 100 full time equivalent employees.
What it offers
A discussion with a RBP Growth Advisor to identify the support needed, connections to providers and if eligible, funding to access expert advisory services.
Business Finance Guarantee
The Treasury
Business Finance Guarantee loans can be provided as a term loan or revolving credit facility if your business (which can be a company, sole trader, partnership or trust) needs credit for cash flow, capital assets and projects related to the impacts of COVID-19.
What it's about
Business Finance Guarantee loans may be available to help small and medium businesses access credit for cash flow, capital assets and projects related to the impacts of COVID-19.
Loans are provided by banks and non-bank deposit takers. Current providers are:
- Banks: ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Heartland Bank, Kiwibank, SBS Bank, TSB, Bank of China and Westpac.
- Non-banks: Nelson Building Society.
Who it's for
New Zealand businesses which are generally viable and meet the scheme criteria may be eligible. Your lender will assess if your business is eligible and apply its lending criteria and processes, modified to give effect to the scheme, and look through the economic cycle to take account of the uncertain economic conditions caused by COVID-19. This will include the ability of your business to repay any credit advanced using the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme.
What it offers
The scheme loans are intended to provide for businesses’ current and up-coming operating cash flow needs (including things like rent and staff expenses), and capital assets and projects related to, responding to or recovering from the impacts of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Small Business Cashflow (loan) Scheme
Inland Revenue
Government loans for small businesses impacted by a loss of revenue due to COVID-19.
What it's about
A government loan over a term of 5 years for small to medium businesses affected by COVID-19.
Who it's for
Businesses set up after 1 April 2020. They need to have been in business for at least 6 months before applying, and to meet other eligibility criteria.
What it offers
Businesses will be entitled to a loan of $10,000, plus $1,800 per full-time employee, up to a maximum of $100,000.
COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment
Ministry of Social Development
The COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment supports businesses to help pay workers who cannot work from home while they wait for a COVID-19 test result.
What it's about
Helping businesses keep paying eligible workers who:
- cannot work from home, and
- need to miss work to stay home while waiting for a COVID-19 test (in line with public health guidance).
Who it's for
Businesses and self-employed workers. There are also other criteria, which are outlined on the Work and Income website.
What it offers
A one-off payment of $350 for each eligible worker.
COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme
Ministry of Social Development
Payments from Work and Income to support employers, including self-employed people, to pay wages if their employees can’t work due to COVID-19.
What it's about
Supporting employers whose employees can’t come into work because Ministry of Health guidelines recommend they stay at home, and they can't work from home.
Who it's for
Employers, including self-employed people, whose employees can’t work due to COVID-19. There’s more eligibility criteria on the Work and Income website.
What it offers
Payments of $585.80 for people working 20 hours or more a week, or $350.00 for people working less than 20 hours per week.
General COVID-19 information for businesses
Accident Compensation Corporation
We’ve made the decision to delay all ACC invoices by three months to reduce the immediate impact of COVID-19 on businesses.
What it's about
All invoices due to be sent in 2020 had a three-month grace period which resulted in CoverPlus Extra invoices being issued from July 2020 and all other invoices from October 2020.
Who it's for
Businesses that pay an ACC levy.
What it offers
- Delayed invoicing
- Payment plans
- To let us know if you’re no longer in business
- How ACC levies work with the government wage subsidy
Related pages
Programmes and initiatives that fund job creation as part of the COVID-19 recovery package.
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