In the blue corner

Ever since the Covid-19 vaccine was made available to New Zealanders, the majority rolled their sleeves up and got double vaccinated. In fact, 95 percent of Kiwis did that, and it meant that they were given strong protection against the severe strains of the virus. But when omicron entered into New Zealand last December, it changed the game. Yes, the vaccine was still helpful, but it did not stop people from getting sick and it has not stopped the virus from spreading across the country. We knew that was a reality in February, and with that the use of Managed Isolation and Quarantine along with vaccine mandates were going to make no significant difference to our health outcomes. The public health rationale for vaccine mandates ended when we soared over 10,000 cases a day. All vaccine mandates do now is put unjustified restraints on New Zealanders. The decision by the Government to remove the mandates on April 4 is welcomed, but it should have been done weeks ago.

The last two years have been gruelling, New Zealand has been a fortress and the economic tsunami that is inflation and slow economic growth is well on the way. The sooner we open up, limit restrictions and become accustomed to living with the virus the better off we will be. We need to acknowledge that vaccine mandates have in fact marginalised people. I don’t imagine that it will look back on this period of time and this Government’s response with much fondness.

The real problem society will face as a result of this pandemic will be the economic burden. People have suffered through this pandemic, people are still suffering as a result of this pandemic, and under the current economic conditions will likely suffer more. We have already seen that the average New Zealand household could be $150 worse off a week by the end of the year. Inflation is off the leash and being stoked along by wasteful Government spending, which will add to the cost of living crisis we are currently facing. Now is not the time for vanity projects like light rail, which will only saddle future generations with yet more debt. Governments, and in fact Parliaments are designed to bring people together, not marginalise them. The Government’s instinct some weeks ago should have been to remove restrictions as soon as it was clear they were no longer needed, rather than being forced to move well after the fact through public pressure. Vaccine mandates were necessary at a point in time, but that time has well expired, and Government urgently need to shift their focus on holding this economy together, before New Zealanders’ livelihoods are lost.