The current alert level restrictions will remain in Auckland for another two weeks.
That is, Auckland will remain at Step 1 of Level 3. Gatherings are still limited to no more than two households, including fewer than 10 people, meeting outdoors.
Waikato will remain at the original tighter version of Level 3. The settings will be reviewed on Friday.
Northland will move to Level 2 at 11:59pm on Tuesday.
The rest of New Zealand will remain at Level 2.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Finance Minister Grant Robertson is working towards providing businesses with more support. Details will be unveiled on Friday. Ardern wouldn't say whether support would be targeted at certain industries or made available to businesses that suffer revenue falls of 'x percent' due to Covid-19.
The Government will on Friday also reveal a vaccination target and outline a detailed plan for tackling Covid-19 beyond the near-term. The plan will consider how vaccination passports can be used. Ardern didn't say when people might be able to start travelling in and out of Auckland.
Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield expected 90% of Aucklanders to have had both doses of the vaccine in about four weeks’ time. Nearly 90% of Aucklanders have had their first dose.
Ardern recognised some epidemiologists have been calling for a "circuit breaker", or for Auckland to move to Level 4. However she said advice from the Ministry of Health, including from public health officials on the ground, was that putting Auckland in a tougher lockdown wouldn't help, given the nature of the outbreak and compliance levels.
Ardern said the additional financial support she's flagged for low-income households would be "quite targeted". She couldn't put a date on when she would detail what this support will look like.
Ardern also reiterated the Government is looking into shortening overseas arrivals' stays in managed isolation. More of these spaces are likely to be required for Covid-19 cases.
The Ministry of Health is already working towards getting more Covid-19 cases to isolate at home, raising the question around why overseas arrivals, who are unlikely to have Covid-19, are still being made to queue up for a spot in managed isolation.
Here is the latest vaccination data from the Ministry of Health:
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164 Comments
The Government will on Friday also reveal a vaccination target
Well that didn't take long. How are we supposed to trust anything this government says?
Wasn't 90% the vaccination target?
It was until we realised we will never make it.
I am guessing it wasn't revealed today because we have already made it. Most other countries are around 80%.
Ardern has said from the very start that she wouldn't set a vaccination target. The 90% figure comes from the roundly criticised "7000 deaths per year" report by Shaun Hendy, and the media (particularly the Herald) have picked it up and run with it.
The thing is that the push to vaccination is based on those predicted deaths. Then .. .they are not happening.... in Canada there should be 4-5k deaths and .... nothing.
The moment there are incentives (various types, paid by the tax payers) to do something - a natural instinct should say ....' hold on ....where is the catch?' Did you every get anything free from the gov of any country ??
Hmm...
I get free roads, free healthcare, free fire service, free museums, and I could go on. Of course they are all ultimately paid for by the taxpayer, just like the covid vaccine. But "free" is not exactly a novel concept for the government.
Omg an announcement about an announcement.
Obviously 90% isn't enough. Why waste 5 more days to let us know?
Sick and tired of being pulled through this stupid PR exercise.
No leadership or courage.
Ardern can f#$% off.
They are going to ruin Auckland.
Auckland's already been ruined by the runaway house price increases over the last 25 years, if anything this might help fix it
Whatever, it'll only increase costs due to supply constraints and uncertainty.
Yeah nah, this is the final nail in the coffin
yes especially given the massive increase in housebuilding costs ........
I went for a drive today; Auckland seems quite pleasant - the best it has been for a couple of decades.
Genuine wealth creation occurs in the South Island and rural North Island - Auckland is just very good at spending the wealth created elsewhere.
If you said that to cafe owners they may well knock you out.
Didn't Jafa's already do that?
Civil disobedience is the only way forward. We need to force the Government to accept reality and use common sense. They are completely delusional.
We have done everything they have asked of us while they have done absolutely nothing right by us. Isn’t it also extremely ironic that all these ‘experts’ calling for Auckland to be locked down and for limiting our freedoms don’t live in Auckland? I am so sick of this. I am up for teaching them not to take advantage of our compliance and patience. Everything has its limits and I feel we have reached the limit in Auckland!
Kia kaha Auckland. just 2 more weeks
I now start to feel sympathy for the influencer mob.
We are over it.
2 more weeks then another announcement about another announcement?
F&@&! sakes while they sit in the Beehive being fully paid FROM OUR WALLETS!
This Government is a complete, unmitigated, utter disaster.
When a government lies in the face of the public, when the rules become nonsensical, and when the public feels like it is being taken for a ride, I am starting to think that civil disobedience will, in the near future, become the only way forward for Auckland.
I hope that some businesses will start ignoring level 3 rules, will be joined by many others, and that will force the government to get a grip on reality.
Mr Frank
So, I understand you and your new political party will contest the 2023 election. Can I suggest a new name for it: "The I can do better party". Good on you for walking the talk.
Are you hoping to contest the election from your basement armchair?
You seem to have the numbers if your supporters on this post are anything to go by; can you pick some of them now to show us what your shadow cabinet would look like? Who would you pick from the above as your Health Minister to slay the Covid dragon?
Let's put it this way, the standard Labour is setting it wouldn't be hard to find someone better. Full stop.
Appears to be pretty hard for the opposition.
Frankly, that's disingenuous.
It’s shocking! Ardern says they have a target, but smugly smiles, we won’t tell you today! FFS you K… we immediately went into anxiety and guess mode. We are all vaxed, yeah double since August, all locked up, can’t visit our kids, we are in punishment northland, yeah we let hookers and drug runners through, plus we probably won’t vote labour again, once bitten. Happy Az for L2 on Weds. happy our houses will rise another 30% this summer, gonna sell up an head to Raro. Fight or flight, they took our guns already, but not my fish8ng rods…
I love the way she prefaces the no change in Auckland with a veiled threat of level 4 so it feels like she is giving you something.
Completely over this bollocks.
This govt are challenging Shipley's as the worst in the last 50 years.
Actually I would say this mob are the worst. At least with Shipley you basically knew what you were getting, unlike this mob who are full of lies.
You're a bit out of touch. This government was voted back in with the highest support of any party since MMP was introduced, and in the most recent poll they had 46% support. Perhaps this is due to the alternatives being far worse, but public opinion has them clearly being the best of the bunch.
It's changing.
And I never said the opposition are any better....
Yeah, that’s a poll eh, conducted of MSM readers? Just saying.
The groundswell out here in rural worker land is way different. Just saying.
I’m still challenged by the fact Jacinda got to be leader by rushed not followed normal labour union rules, then got in by a party with 7% vote who chose her (I reckon surely whisky Winnie is rueing that now).
Right on the money Housemouse!!!
To reiterate what I have said many times now:
Adhern is the emperors new clothes!! She will be recorded in history as our worst ever PM ( knocking Shipley out of that spot) and her government as the worst in New Zealand's history!!!
I love this country, but I really fear for our future. If she gets another term with the greens then the country is toast!
Yeah what a setup leading into the conference
Im beginning to feel like the whole thing is staged, bloomfield this morning talking about the short circuit, its in the media, aucklanders get to worry about that all day, then Aunty says its OK kids, Ill look after you.
It is just wrong. Manipulative crap.
100% that's how they're playing it...
I am surprised it took this long to realise this. I am sick of her media manipulation and facade. They have done nothing in the last 2 years to improve hospital facilities instead she has jumped on vaccination bandwagon. Now we are all getting vaccinated she just keeps dragging her feet through this. By the time she opens, the vaccine efficacy would have waned and she won’t open until boosters. This is beyond ridiculous. I have zero respect for you Jacinda. Lies, lies and more lies fed with a tilt of the head and a smile. I am so over it! I hate the anti lockdown protests but I’m thinking of joining them next time because this has gone on too long. She has taken us for idiots.
Asking her ‘Expert’ friends to scoff up some garbage about level 4 and trying to act like the generous angel in keeping us at level 3. How does she live with her garbage? Pass me the bucket. She missed her true calling… Hollywood!
And she is still most favorite, I am looking for people who vote for her.. Pathetic job
Feel like house arrest all the time without any reason.. It is now overdone only deceit and lies is what we get from this govt.
This promises to be the worst government that NZ has ever had. A complete shamble.
Yes the level 4 threat was a rather bald straw man wasn’t it. The government is completely at sea in a black storm, aback and awash, not knowing how to set a sail. Other countries with very high vaccination rates have evidenced there are still significant hospitalisation numbers from covid. But they are coping. Even the UK’s much maligned NHS is coping. Our government does not think though, that NZ’s hospitals can cope. There is no other explanation. The modelling has had sufficient time to produce the relative curve and provide some good detail as to a timetable based on it, for opening up. Nothing has been forthcoming, and based on the information given, or more importantly not given, Auckland will need to remain as is, even if vaccinations meet 95%. I mean in two weeks time, what can possibly have changed to allow a change. And then two weeks, and two weeks more. On and on it goes, that is the only rationale at play, it is far too obvious to see.
Never seen the goal posts moved so much....70-80-90 nope 95%...feel for you in AKl really do
I’m sure I’m not the only Aucklander who has no intention to continue following this crap.
Exactly.
Im with you.
I am not even a business owner but I F!@U@ feel angry at how Ardern and co are playing with people's lives.
Look at NSW - well done, that's leadership.
Me neither, but I have two close friends who are, and they are teetering on the edge
Still have another 6 weeks or so until Auckland's lockdown extends as long as Sydney's one. Not sure why you'd prefer that leadership
Guess what? At least they had a plan and a target from the start. Duh!
I am not sure sticking to a bad plan is better than changing the plan as information come to light. But it is time for Labour to loosen again as it promised to do 2 weeks ago. Just because some nutters who call themselves experts are asking for level 4, that doesn't mean they can't keep loosening as vaccination rates increase.
Here then is a good question to any one of the government’s relative ministers, “ what precisely do you see changing in the next two weeks that would allow a relaxation from Auckland’s present status?”
Yes, nice and simple.
Second dose vaccinations, currently about 70%, but should get up there in a three weeks or so.
Optimistically you may well be right. But if new cases are still arriving daily at present numbers, or as the government has conceded likely larger, in three weeks time, how does that then allow the current guidelines/criteria to be relaxed. The fact might well be in two months time case numbers are continuing to rise day by day, despite vaccination levels. What then?
NSW went from emphasising cases towards hospitalisation/death in their press conferences... I expect we'll follow the same path. 90% double doses, go a step down in level 3 for a couple of weeks (takes two weeks for 2nd shot to kick in). Then level 2 a week or so later.... at least something like that is the closest I can see to a credible plan.
Aye, good reasoning. It would seem though, and so far justifiably that the NSW authorities have more confidence in their hospital capacity than our government does relatively? Just to jump ahead a bit on that, what I see as an abysmal failure in governance is that the real fear remains as the potential of hospitals to be overwhelmed by covid. As such two facets, as enlisted by other nations have been ignored by this government in precisely the same manner as they were lax and complacent in getting vaccinations underway. Firstly boosters. This would assist the aged and/or preconditioned to avoid hospital admission. Secondly saliva testing, especially self testing. Early detection provides early intervention. As far as I can see the government has been doing nothing but their standard escape clause “working on it” for over a year. In truth they are recreating exactly the same failure as to vaccinate timely. They have learnt absolutely nothing, and the ordinary folk of New Zealand are about to pay for it.
it will take 2 weeks for the antibodies to be at a good level after the second jab, so in two weeks 71% of auckland will be fully vaccinated and it will increase daily from there. if you check the maps you will see big patches of auckland that are hitting 95% first jab, it is south auckland that lags way behind, we have tried the carrot long enough it is time for the stick approach, time to bring in things those that are double jabbed can do if not too bad
Honestly, all hope that the rate of vaccination will eventually curb the rate of infection. However the question remains as to what happens if it doesn’t do so in a span of time that is viable. To date there is no indication of any slowing of infections, and bear in mind the government is actually saying expect them to rise into the daily 100s, and at the same time refusing to publish a vaccination target that would achieve said outcome, ie vaccination besting infections. On figures and reasoning to date, in two months time, Mr Delta could easily be leading Mr Pfizer hands down on the scoreboard. What then?
3 weeks and 20% extra won't mean diddly squat in the long term.
This will not go away until we develop heard immunity. Let's get our kids back to school and start building up thier immunity now.
People will die. Let's accept this and move on.
There is no magical other solution aside from never ending level 3.
I am completely with you, and I hope that business owners will start a movement of civil disobedience against this nonsense.
This government is losing legitimacy by the day. It's controlled by unelected bureaucrats who are overriding our normal rights and laws without end, making us jump through hoops and shifting the goalposts no matter how well we do. What a waste of time that Vaxxathon was.
Almost our civic duty to start disobeying (in a safe way of course).
I think Ardern has put so.much stock in her so called 'world leading' covid response that she and her cronies are petrified of that mantle crumbling before her very eyes...
The bureaucrats are chewing this government up, and spitting them out with contempt. The bureaucracy has the bit between the teeth, the jockey a feeble weak rider, no hope of wresting back control. Said it before and say it again a bureaucracy that is opinionated, self serving and unaccountable is a threat to society as we know it and democracy itself. Folks, this government has let the cow run away with the spoon, over the hills and far away. Let’s all sing together in joyous refrain, “ Red Flags in the Sunset.”
Not sure about that. I did some contract work in a ministry a few years back and it was the politicians who directed and bossed the bureaucracy, not the other way around.
Resoundingly my experience also Housemouse
Prime Minister: We want to provide more certainty going forwards. We don't want to plan week to week.
Prime Minister 5 minutes later: Jokes, we will annouce our plan for moving forwards on Friday.
Prime Minister another 5 minutes later: More Jokes, our plan for friday will be based on a milestone no. of vaccinated not a date, so will float week to week or it may never happen.
Listening to the presser everyone is sounding a lot more tense. Will Australia opening provide a catalyst for us to get over our Lockdown = good response.
"The vaccine is all about opportunities".
Namely the opportunity to sit at home for another two weeks, waiting for a target to replace what you already thought was the target.
If National can find a semi- decent leader then they are home and hosed to win next election in coalition with Seymour. Especially with the economic hard times coming.
That is one giant IF.
The numpties that used to say Muller was better than Bridges, then said Collins was better than Muller, are now saying Luxon is better than Collins.
I have some news for them.... None of them are even remotely compentent. If Luxon is the best they have, they might as well just jump ship to ACT.
We have no leaders in this country, at best we have some mid level managers.
I would vote for the opposition right now even if the leader was a Teletubbie.
I would vote for them, or at least Seymour, as a protest vote.
I could not agree more. This government has completely lost touch with reality. This is pure lunacy.
To be fair that's always been the case with National's tribal 20%
Chloe FTW
People, we will need to stand up and not lay down, allowing ourselves to give away our freedoms and our childrens futures.
If you are vaccinated, shouldnt you be allowed your freedom now?
If we are to open up fully vaccinated (90%+) then why cant vaccinated congregate? I makes no difference.
This is Not about your health, they will only allow you 'freedom' when they can monitor your movements via tracking and compliance app
Honestly, I have never been at a protest before but boy, if there was one I might even consider it this time.
I
HAVE
HAD
IT
I am not encouraging illegal behaviour. I am just venting my anger.
Yet the media aren't even asking these questions. Melbourne has similar vaccine rates, loads of deaths and cases a day, and they are going to level 2. Why do they think we need to wait more when we have 0 deaths a day?
You are missing the point - it has nothing to do with health!
It is about control and dividing the society. You need conflict and fear to easier influence people.
Great Reset.
@bpmhopper
Wow, if you would have said this six months ago you would have been flagged a conspiracy theorist and be booted off this site by Dave.
Moving target - AGAIN!
The inconsistency is incredible!
Now - more and more spin to vaccinate 5 years old - it is MADNESS!
Sure, stay at home, then crowd at vax station and the head to KFC for a healthy meal!
What did goverment did to encourage citizens for healthy wellbeing?
How does Labour get 45% in the polls?
Are they polling people in Dunedin only?
NUTS
There's a good chunk of the population who are on benefits, in cushy govt jobs, or in cushy private sector jobs, comfortably retired, or are living in the relative freedom of level 2 and are effectively oblivious to the pain that many are suffering.
If you think inflation is bad now, just you wait.
When people are paid to produce nothing then we have in increase in cash to fund an increase in nothing. i.e more cash chasing the same stuff.
So 60 odd cases a day, 0 deaths a day (significantly less than the road toll), 80% will be double vaxed in 2 weeks (more than most other countries), yet for some reason we still need lockdown? When do we not need lockdown? This is getting crazy. No wonder people are breaking the rules.
Just look at the figures for Singapore for the last month.
But you are right they will need to bite the bullet and open up soon.
Look at the figures for NSW. Cases going down despite loosening of restrictions.
Time to travel to the South Island for 2 weeks, then a one-way green flight to Australia - one way.
about 160 heart related deaths this week -- 180 cancer related -- but 60 bill borrowed to tackle covid not get MRI machines and scan people before they have a heart attack or are stage 1 and 2 not stage 3 and 4 cancer? If you wanted to be vaccinated you are -- and if you chose not to be -- isnt that what living in a FREE democratic society is all about ?
note 'heart related deaths' wording.
I watched interesting program in the TV recently. One of the European countries (i guess it was Poland) was averaging 410.000 deaths per year in 2018 and 2019. In 2020 they got 485.000 (!) where 25.000 was related to Covid (covid infected only (200 cases) or with other issues (the rest)).
So, there is 50.000 more deaths related to 'other reasons' which are 'not clear'. I will let you draw conclusions on that...
I also suggest to watch tightly filtered news by NZ media regarding what is happening in this space around the world.
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
C S Lewis...
A total genius.
Breaking news: the vaccination target that will be declared by our Dear Leader is 101% of the eligible population (subject to further upward revision, of course).
Maybe they could disinter some people and jab them too aye? That'd get the numbers up!
Covid announcements attract the punters here like house prices used to!
Great distraction for the govt!!!
Well it's the only thing the Journos can remember to post an article on (Present site excluded). One thing in their little brains at a time.
We don't get stories on Child Poverty, Homelessness, Kiwibuild, Pausing immigration, Pike River, fees free, cost of living...
Light rail
Are you possibly overdoing it in the comments section here mate.
Ardern was going to be "Damned if she did, and damned if she didn't" today. She must have known that.
Yet she chose to try to do neither. ("I'll tell you on Friday" for God's sake)
By that one action, she lost us all.
They deny that S Auckland is the problem
Then Bloomfield admits at least 4 weeks to get Maori to 90% (ha)
Which means not reached by Nov 3rd plainly
Plan for future but nothing for present
They'll do anything to stop it spreading to Wellington.
Level 4 is coming, watch this space...
Totally wouldn't surprise me, sadly.
You couldn't make this shit up!!!
Unlikely. Listen to the presser, Compliance is slipping. Going into L4 we were at 2% vaccinated, we are now over 80. A move up a level at this point to any part of the country would just incite riots.
So what are they going to do when cases hit tripple digits, covid starts spreading around the country, more deaths occur?
Let's face it, for Labour It's all about Christmas. They need to open the country up in December for the sake of the polls. A circuit breaker lockdown prior to this could fit in perfectly...
What are they going to do?
They will announce that they will announce the announcement to the announcement of their plan at some point.
The real question is who gets first pre-vetted pointless question? Tova or Jessica?
Oh, thanks for that. Even though it is said without fail, every time, it is so fast, my old hearing had it down as Tessica or Java, Now not quite so confused, Should sleep better now, maybe.
Yeah na. I'm happy to be moving to level 2 in a day but this is not fair on Aucklanders. They've done about as well as any large group of people could do in the developed world under these circumstances.
The rest of the country needs to accept that covid is coming for them, they've had long enough to prepare, Auckland needs to be allowed to open up.
F* the epidemiologists at this point, their extreme risk aversion is completely out of touch with social considerations and if they can't provide relevance at this point they need to be put out to pasture.
This is a decision that needs to be changed. Another 2 weeks is too far wrong.
Yes I think the problem being that 66% of the voters are better off with Auckland in level 3 or 4 forever, so they are getting what they want. The sooner Aucklanders rebel the better by the looks of it. I noticed the media going on about some kids that had a party as if they were the devils, but can you really blame them, especially if they are vaccinated, why shut down your whole life forever when there seems to be no consideration for the affects of that and everything is about saving the lives of people who don’t even want the vaccine.
And even if they were unvaccinated and got covid they'd be fine at that age. Yes they might bring it home to grandma, but if grandma isn't double vaxxed at this point, then she was probably never going to get vaxxed and would likely have had some degree of serious problem in the next 3-6 months (depending on age).
I think the country has done great in looking out for the more vulnerable populations to date. But people can't sustain that forever. We are fundamentally selfish beings if we don't allow people to live their lives they will eventually throw the baby out with the bath water.
Hey come on, 25 people under 18 died of Covid in the UK, that is a whole 0.000041% of their population. Surely we need to keep them locked down and out of school forever.
Arden to hospo, retail et al:
This is my Kind Middle Finger......
I feel so sorry for you in Auckland, I'm getting frustrated listening to this government's BS, no clear direction or targets, the unvacinated are holding you to ransom.
This weak government will never weild the big stick as it may effect their voting base.
Yep it's all about politics.
Don't think because she's 'kind' that Jacinda is any less calculating than any leader NZ has ever had...
How about the woefully underfunded health system is holding us all to randsom? Why haven’t the good doctors and nurses started striking together until successive governments have increased funding to reflect immigration levels and any number of other issues such as woeful buildings costing fortunes to build, leak and maintain and replace with more leaky buildings…? And that’s just for starters before we could ask why in earthe there has been zero mention by the PM of any specific alternative treatment and preventative measures to reduce likely demand from Covid infections…?
Because the regionally elected members of the DHBs are gagged. The latest press releases by the DHBs, are no different, they have been written by the MoH in Wellington. And thus the government is to remove all local community representation and centralise all power and authority in Moscow.
Goodness me, many of my neighbours have piled on lots of weight, including a couple who have been walking quite a lot. I have stacked on about 5 kilos, I too walk reasonably frequently.
Surely today has confirmed that she is our worst PM ever? On her watch; debt has ballooned by $55 billion; house prices have doubled; and she has sent us back to Weimar Germany with the stealing of fundamental freedoms... Go, go, go.
She's up there.
And pretty much everything she vowed to improve has got considerably worse.
A total phoney.
Unlike me, much of the left seem very forgiving...
But hey covids to blame..."national wouldn't have done any better"...
It's heartwarming to see so many people waking up to her true nature.
Goodness we have something we agree on Landers.
I voted for her first time around, although I was suspicious. Didn't make the mistake a second time!
But many centre-lefters seem oblivious to her fakeness!!!
I didn't vote for her first time but did second time. I wouldn't take that back. Her government (while she has to take the role of being wholly responsible I strongly suspect she does not make all the decisions) have been making difficult but good decisions on this front so far. Nothing at any point I have thought - "I could have done better". It is a totally sh*tty and complex situation end of. My gut tells me any other crew would have totally ballsed it by now, this far in.
However the decision today is just wrong. It needs to be reversed. Covid is coming, it's happening, we can't put our heads on the sand any longer. And we need to stop punishing Aucklanders, they have done everything right (within reasonable tolerances).
Fully agree. I think they got it mostly right until now. They said there would be further easing as vaccination rates increased yet it will be at least 4 weeks without any despite vaccination rates increasing rapidly.
The problem is that the Labour Government have boxed themselves in. At some point, there needed to be a brave and upfront message that, at the end of the day, this was a pandemic, there were going to be cases, and some people were regrettably going to die. But they've committed themselves to a cause that is unsustainable and many at home are also fearful of the alternative (think the "lockdown lefties" on their own side that attacked them when they relaxed settings in Auckland). This means they can't change course. Although I don't like her policies, I respect her political nous, but I also believe they're going down the wrong track (politically) because they're going to upset the center. If National had a half-respectable leader, Labour would be in trouble, but it's possible Seymour will continue to surge and become the opposition.
Yep, boxed themselves into a corner indeed.
I am not simply judging on covid...
I'm proud of them for giving the middle finger to investors. Long overdue and not something the opposition would have done (obviously). Took them too long, they are a true centrist govn so far (which is usually worse than useless to the vast majority), but they did get there eventually.
As for the rest of it, I have very low expectations of politicians so try not to look too closely as it's depressing. But hey, one or two good policy changes and up till yesterday what I thought was a good covid response and I'm willing to call that a general win. I don't expect governing a country with all the moving parts is an easy job.
It is too soon to know who go it right. 10 years from now, we would be able to see if they were right or not (with consequences of their actions materialise).
You will know within 2-3 years from now at the latest. The overall death rates will increase mysteriously, you just wait and see… Don’t expect any admissions of guilt however. This will be a tragedy already baked in. I am just glad I am not going to be one of the numbers. This government is not going to force me or my family into any experimental injections, but you are all welcome to it if you think it will be your salvation. What’s more, line up for boosters!
You're cracked mate
We're hostage to Maori.
The gangs spread the virus. Young maori don’t vaccinate. Then the rest of us get blamed for some ludicrous "genocide" and have to twiddle our thumbs waiting for the impossible.
Never thought I'd say this, but we need Key.
The issue is, he probably never would have locked us down. I'm not convinced that would have been the best decision for NZ. We were going pretty bloody well I thought. Until today. Today's decision for Auckland is not ok.
I was not and am not a Key fan.
But I suspect he would have handled this in a more balanced manner.
He would have. Ardern was reluctant to close borders and then slow to lockdown. Her hand was forced by health technocrats and Key's would have been forced in the same way. Remember, Key was a pragmatist (perhaps that's being kind, focus group driven may be more accurate), not ideological like Collins.
His links with business were too strong for my liking. An obsession with economic metrics to the detriment of this country via mass immigration (infrastructure, social cohesion etc etc).
I don't really agree with you that he would be willing to act in the public good if it overrode the lobbying of his business groups. But I guess we will never know.
I suspect he would have opened too soon and we would have missed the hey days we had up till September when everyone else was wallowing.
Double post
I wonder what these vaccination targets will be? I sure hope it doesn’t include a racial component because that will create hatred (can you imagine the talkback if we are in lockdown waiting for Maori to vaccinate).
I’m guessing it will be 90% double jabbed, that is still a long way away and a lot further away than any other country has waited.
They've already said it will be based on demographic sub groups. Race relations in NZ are about to take a major turn for the worse.
Yep and if you look at the vulnerable age demographics Maori have got the job done. So the young ones aren't vaccinated. It will spread quicker in that population but due to their age they are statistically very likely to come out of that totally fine.
What is the actual risk that we are trying to manage here? Our hospitals were never going to cope with anything more than their current loads pre covid. It's going to be a mess, let's just get on with it. I don't see anything we can do from here on in making a material difference.
95% Vax rate needed in ALL micro-communities now before Auckland can get to level 2.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300432929/covid19-auc…
So that may mean a long time.
At some stage lockdowns need to cease regardless and businesses return to business. Elimination is now futile.
There's no chance we'll get to that level...
I don’t think logic comes into it with our supposed scientists. They would have us in lockdown for years to prevent a few hundred deaths if they had their way. God apparently we can start easing once we hit 90% double vax but not go to level 2! At what vax rate can we go to level 1?
If vaccination is so important that we need to lock up 1.5 million people for few weeks so the vaccine hesitant get vaccinated, surely the government who professes the necessity of the vaccine, its utter significance etc, should be brave enough and compel vaccination.
If not so absolutely necessary as to require compulsion, then surely the same government could not justify keeping everyone locked up.
This government wants to achieve two completely opposite objectives.
The irony is we can't even really blame Jacinda & co.
Who do they get their orders from?
Who are the men and women behind the curtain?
In six months from now most of you will start to ask these questions as well.
I think our PM is a follower, not a leader. After the CCP shut down a province, she followed.
The Swedes had a leader. And now have no Covid and beers in their hands...
And a 10% unemployment rate
About 8% and Covid debt per person about 70% lower ...
Plus their unemployment rate has always been high.
As per higher up, my experience is that it's the politicians who are bossing a pliant bureaucracy, NOT the other way around.
You know what? This announcement didn't phase me much at all. Because I decided to do whatever the hell I want to some weeks back. And yes I'm vaccinated.
This is not a dangerous disease unless you're very unwell or very old.
Good attitude.
Between work commitments I am going to get out to beaches and reserves 2-3 times per week, might as well make the most of nature, given there's little else to do!
The Labour government is like a broken diode- neither is it able to decide whether to permit a positive or a negative direction nor produce any legible or half decent sinusoidal wave.
I reckon they are targeting February 2022 for opening up.
First up, hopefully some hot summer weather and everyone is outside which will see cases numbers being low.
Our last xmas closed off from the world, traffic light system starting to be used, low cases start spreading throughout North Island.
Vaccine passports.
Jan 1st mandatory vaccinations for teachers comes in to effect, school starts in one month. (plus more to follow but mandated by businesses so govt doesn't look bad), AirNZ mandatory vaccinations for all international travellers Feb 1st.
Feb 1st would allow plenty of time for people to be vaccinated and maybe a few different vaccine options for the mRNA hesitant have arrived later in the year. Non mRNA Booster shots begin being rolled out too...
Cabin fever, just what a hungry virus needs
And a whole lot of people getting fatter and unhealthier!
Dormice in hibernation??
nice, squeak
They don't want to get too fat and tasty
EEK!
Dormice favoured by Italian mafia seized in drugs raid
I am sort of amused. You all did as you were told and took the experimental jab. For what? She suckered you all.
She is and always was a liar. You bought hook line and sinker. Good luck with that.
The frustration here today has zero to do with your antivax rhetoric.
Absolutely it still stands that if you are not vaccinated today without a medical exemption you are a f*ing idiot, and dumber than the dumb decision made by Jacinda and co today by a long shot.
She has ru out of luck.
Yes well.... another example of moving goal posts with no clear direction... what did we really expect...? I mean they did say it's a fluid situation right?
I think this govt is alienating most of the population especially Auckland with its PR rubbish
Can't wait for labour to be out - now just need a viable alternative party that doesn't have self interest at it's core
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