‘Wrong time’ to end jab mandate

The requirement for vaccination mandates at Ka¯piti Coast District Council’s public facilities will be removed in the near future but not immediately.

Ka¯piti mayor K Gurunathan said this in response to emails from the public to elected members calling on council to follow the example of Taupo¯ District Council which has removed the need for vaccine passes at some of its facilities.

“Ka¯piti is not Taupo¯ . We have a population profile that has a significant number of vulnerable people,” he said.

“With 30 per cent aged over 60 years, the second highest in the country. We also have more than 3000 single occupant households of largely senior citizens. Topping that, we have nine retirement homes in the district.

“While I understand the libertarians of Ka¯piti wanting their individual freedom now, council has the responsibility to the wider public and its staff to keep everyone safe,” the mayor said.

“The administrative responsibility for the safety of staff and safety precautions at council facilities are the call of the council chief executive.

“I totally support the continuation of mandate requirements in the short term while especially given our population profile and the medical evidence that half of those being hospitalised with Covid across the country are elderly.

“This is also the wrong time to be considering the removal of mandates with active Covid numbers in the Wellington region on the rise.

The libertarians will have their day back in the sun like the rest of us but we just need to be patient.”