In the red corner

With exciting developments on the vaccine and safe travel zone fronts, it’s tempting to think we’re on the Covid home straight. But, while encouraging, it’s too soon to let our guards down. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re still in the tunnel.

New Zealand has constantly adjusted and lifted its ability to respond to Covid.

Our mantra of always learning and improving has boosted our testing and tracing systems and strengthened our border controls.

That means since the Auckland cluster we’ve been able to stamp out the virus without changing alert levels. But we know the pandemic is raging overseas and no border protections can be foolproof.

That’s why we’ve outlined extensive allof-government planning in the event of a community case of Covid these holidays, and arranged support for businesses affected by any resurgence.

The Government has also signed agreements to purchase a range of Covid vaccines: 750,000 courses from Pfizer and BioNTech; up to 5 million courses from

Janssen; 3.8 million courses from AstraZeneca; and 5.36 million courses from Novavax. If proven to be safe and effective by our medicines regulator, these vaccines will provide broad coverage for New

Zealand and our Pacific neighbours – in our biggest immunisation programme ever.

Top priority will be to vaccinate border workers and frontline staff at greatest risk of getting Covid. Other New Zealanders will follow, in stages, in the second half of the year. Going hard and early has put us in a good position. The incredible efforts of our team of five million mean we can enjoy the kind of summer many other countries can only dream of. But we cannot become complacent.

There are little things we can all do to protect ourselves and our wha¯ nau from the virus: staying home if we’re sick, keeping track of where we go, and practising good hygiene.

Even though New Zealand has responded exceptionally well to Covid, the health, social and economic impacts of this pandemic will be with us for some time.

The Government is focused on keeping New Zealanders safe from Covid, accelerating our economic recovery, and laying the foundations to tackle long-term challenges like housing, child poverty and climate change.

We’re a nation that has been shaped by our experiences, particularly the tough times. The Prime Minister’s message to us has been, ‘‘Be strong, but be kind – we will be OK.’’ I trust we can weather any impacts and build back better.