Today’s decision to keep Auckland in a higher COVID Alert Level has triggered a third round of the Wage Subsidy Scheme which will open for applications at 9am this Friday.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the revenue test period for this payment will be the 14th to the 27th of September.

The Wage Subsidy Scheme will be available for those in Auckland, and those around the country.

But there’s a catch for businesses outside of Auckland. They must be able to prove their revenue loss is a result of Alert Level 3 or 4 in Auckland.

Friday is also when eligible businesses can apply for another Resurgence Support Payment to help them pay their rent and other fixed costs.

This is available to all businesses that can show a 30 percent drop in revenue while anywhere in the country is at Alert Level 2.

 The RSP was originally intended to be a one-off payment “but after consultation with our business community” we have agreed to make it a three-weekly payment in recognition of the challenges businesses are facing,” Grant Robertson said.

“I know it is tough to go through a second Alert Level 4 lockdown in New Zealand when we have been enjoying a restriction-free lifestyle for so much longer than our international counterparts. 

So far this outbreak the Government has paid out almost $1.8 billion in wage subsidies and $531 million in Resurgence Support Payments.