New face mask exemption pass

In April 2022, the Government announced a new process will be established to issue personalised exemption passes for people who have genuine reasons for not being able to wear a face mask. 

The new process has now started and is being administered by the Ministry of Health.

The new personalised exemption pass will help businesses. Sadly, in attempting to verify whether people are genuinely exempt, workers – especially those in retail settings such as supermarkets – have experienced escalating and unsafe behaviour from some customers. This new process gives assurance that when someone presents a personalised exemption pass, they’re genuinely exempt.

If a person presents a personalised exemption pass, then businesses should allow the person entry into their premises without any further questioning.

Businesses continue to have the right to deny entry to people for poor or inappropriate behaviour – whether they are exempt from wearing a face mask or not.

Both the new personalised exemption passes and the previous non-personalised exemption cards, issued by the Ministry of Health, are optional for people who are exempt, as an aid to them in avoiding discrimination.

Businesses should be aware of the requirement not to discriminate against people with disabilities under the Human Rights Act 1993, which could give a person who feels discriminated against cause to make a complaint to the Human Rights Commissioner.

People can apply for a personalised exemption pass using the Ministry of Health website:

COVID-19: Advice for people who have difficulties wearing a face mask(external link) — Ministry of Health NZ

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