The COVID-19 Protection Framework (known colloquially as the traffic light system) was a system used by the New Zealand Government during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. The three-tier traffic light system used vaccination and community transmission rates to determine the level of restrictions needed. It came into effect at 11:59 pm on 2 December 2021, replacing the four-tier alert level system, which used lockdowns. On 12 September 2022, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the traffic light system would be dropped at 11:59 pm that night.

The traffic light system used three colour-coded levels based on a traffic light: Red when the health care system is at risk of being overloaded, Orange when there is pressure on the health care system, and Green when hospitalisation levels are manageable. The Green level was never used.

COVID-19 is present across New Zealand, but with limited community transmission, sporadic imported cases, manageable hospitalisation levels. The health system will be ready to respond, including primary care, public health, and hospitals.

Increasing community transmission with increasing pressure on health system. The whole of health system will focus its resources, but can continue to manage primary care, public health, and hospitals. Increasing risk to at-risk populations.

Action needed to protect both at-risk people and health system from unsustainable number of hospitalisations.

For places with vaccine certificate requirements:

For places without vaccine certificate requirements:

The My Vaccine Pass was announced in October 2021. They are used as a proof of vaccination status, and a condition of entry for restaurants, bars, and other places.