At the red level, someone without a vaccine certificate cannot dine at a restaurant, attend a gathering of more than 10 people or go to the gym.
Orange means no limits if vaccine certificates are used for hospitality, gatherings and events. Limits will apply if no vaccine certificates are used.
Green will have limits if no vaccine certificates are used for hospitality, gatherings and events.
The new system won't come into effect until all DHBs across the country meet the 90 per cent vaccination threshold.
Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall didn't think 90 per cent was a tough ask.
"Vaccination is the best way to keep our community safe - I think it's a completely appropriate target," McDouall said.
"This is the way to live in the future, and it's an acknowledgement that Delta has changed the face of the Government response. But I'm confident that Whanganui will get behind this plan.
"It's our pathway forward."
Whanganui MP Steph Lewis said the plan to move to normality was in the community's hands, with the goal to now hit 90 per cent fully vaccinated.
"I have faith in our people - we can absolutely hit that. Now it's about talking to those people who either haven't been able to go and get a vaccine or have been a bit hesitant to come forward and ask questions they may have.
"It's a pathway to opening up and it utilises the best tool we've got in our toolbox, which is vaccination."
Lewis accepted that the new plan would mean that Covid would be in and around the community, but believed that in the event of an outbreak in Whanganui, the district could respond to it.
"I know that the DHB has put a lot of work into planning around what if. The best way to be prepared for an outbreak is for everybody to do their part and get vaccinated."
Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said it was all well and good to have a traffic light system, but if everyone got to the intersection at different times, then nothing changed.
"There needs to be another lane to help the traffic flow better. They haven't addressed the roadworks on the road to get to the intersection."
She asked what was being done to help get to that 90 per cent threshold when her area of South Taranaki only has 38 per cent of Māori double-vaccinated.
"I was hoping we would see a transparent plan on how to address those inequities and get everyone as close as possible to that 90 per cent mark."
Chairwoman of Whanganui Chamber of Commerce Glenda Brown said they are pleased to hear of more financial support for businesses due to the extended lockdowns.
"We urge all businesses that continue to struggle to check and see if they are eligible. Localised lockdowns make good sense to allow the rest of the country to operate while trying to contain the virus in a focused area.
"The traffic light system makes the message the same – get vaccinated to enjoy your freedom. If the economy is to recover quickly, then we need to be 90 per cent vaccinated for businesses to enter into the recovery mode and get back to normal trading."
Brown said there were still some vital questions that needed answering and clarification.
"There needs to be more clarity for businesses on what the vaccination certificate will require. What is the legal framework around this for employers where the vaccination is not mandated in a particular industry?
"What industries cannot be covered with a mandate? Businesses that have the vaccination certificate, if or when their staff contract Covid, are they required to still self-isolate? That could potentially wipe out a workforce for a couple of weeks. Businesses need to know these details to better prepare their plans."
Jonathan Sykes, acting chief executive of Whanganui & Partners said businesses needed clear guidelines to operate under and as straightforward a system as possible.
Digesting this new set of rules will be another adjustment for local businesses.
"Business owners are facing increased expenses related to the pandemic. Costs of freight, supply issues and social distancing requirements are all creating challenges. Although we have fewer restrictions in Whanganui, we are part of a much larger business network and the knock-on effects of Auckland's lockdown are being felt in our local economy.
"Although local businesses are facing pressure, our consumer spending remains strong and our economy continues its growth pattern of the last two years. Whanganui consumer spend for the week ending October 17 was up 9.9 per cent on the same week last year while nationally it was at -9.8 per cent."
He said achieving a higher vaccination rate would clearly improve economic performance and ease our ability to trade locally, nationally and internationally.
"We know it will take effort to navigate the framework's requirements. Business owners will have concerns around compliance and the regulation of vaccine certificates so it is important the government move quickly with vaccine certificate plans and implementation."
