How to apply

Process for TAANZ members and affiliates of the four large travel agency chains

The Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand (TAANZ), First Travel, Flight Centre, Helloworld and House of Travel will act as ‘lead applicants’ for their members.

What you need to do

If your business is a franchise, subsidiary or affiliate of one of the four travel agency chains named above, you will need to ask them to apply on your behalf. You should ask TAANZ to apply on your behalf if your business is a member of TAANZ but not a franchise, subsidiary or affiliate of one of the four travel agency chains.

You will need to provide the lead applicant with the following information about your business:

• Your business’s legal name
• Your business’s trading name
• New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)
• GST Number
• Email address
• Phone number
• Your business’s physical address (including post code)
• A forecast of your business’s outstanding refunds, from 14 August 2020 (in NZD)
• Credits confirmed with consumers before 14 August 2020 and awaiting rebooking (in NZD)
• Additional credits likely to be notified to consumers, from 14 August 2020 (in NZD)

Your lead applicant will let you know once the application has been approved by MBIE, and work with you to pull together the information required to request payment through the Scheme.

Your obligations

If another organisation is applying on your behalf, you still need to meet the conditions set out in the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Reimbursement Scheme declaration, including that:

• the information you provide is true and correct to the best of your knowledge
• you only seek reimbursement for eligible transactions
• you will provide MBIE or its auditors with further information if required to uphold the integrity of the Scheme
• MBIE will publish your business’s name, the amount of money you have been paid through the Scheme, and the number of consumer refunds and credits that have been reimbursed.

Make sure that you read and fully understand the declaration before deciding to participate in the Scheme. You will need to give written consent to your lead applicant, saying that you agree to the obligations and requirements set out in the declaration.

Declaration – COVID-19 Consumer Travel Reimbursement Scheme

Process for travel businesses to apply directly

If your business is not affiliated with the named travel agency chains or TAANZ, you will need to apply to participate in the Scheme directly.

What you need to do

Complete the Consumer Travel Reimbursement Scheme application form, and send it to:

Applications.TRS@mbie.govt.nz

Make sure you complete both sections of the application form, and attach independent verification of your bank account details to your email (such as a deposit slip, header of bank statement, or screenshot from internet banking).

MBIE will assess your application and let you know when it has been approved. We aim to process applications within five working days.

Once your application is approved, MBIE will provide you with information about the invoicing and payment process.

Your obligations

As part of the application form, you need to make a declaration that you will meet the obligations and requirements of the Scheme. Make sure that you read and fully understand the declaration before you apply to participate in the Scheme.

Declaration – COVID-19 Consumer Travel Reimbursement Scheme 

Applying on behalf of subsidiary and affiliated businesses

If you are a lead applicant, you need to provide the following details about each franchise, subsidiary or affiliated business as part of your application:

• Business’s legal name
• Business’s trading name
• New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)
• GST Number
• Email address
• Phone number
• Business’s physical address (including post code)
• A forecast of the business’s outstanding refunds, from 14 August 2020 (in NZD)
• Credits confirmed with consumers before 14 August 2020 and awaiting rebooking (in NZD)
• Additional credits likely to be notified to consumers, from 14 August 2020 (in NZD)

You also need to keep a written record of consent given by each business for you to apply on their behalf. This includes agreeing to the obligations and requirements set out in the declaration.