Leaders call for Covid clarity

AUCKLAND: Some of the country’s most powerful business leaders are demanding the Government lay out its Covid19 plan, including how it is measuring its current strategy and its plans to get the border open.

The group includes the chairmen of Auckland Airport, The Warehouse and SkyCity.

The group is calling for clarity and openness, saying the details need to be made available beyond government circles.

Mercury chairwoman Prue Flacks said major New Zealand businesses would welcome the opportunity to assist the Government in its longerterm planning.

‘‘We’ve seen the open and transparent approach taken by Australia on its vaccine rollout plan, the launch last week by the United Kingdom government of a clear plan to manage a path out of its current lockdown and the ongoing success in Taiwan of avoiding lockdowns through using technology to manage home isolation.

‘‘It will be beneficial for all New Zealand if the Ministry of Health and other agencies take an open and transparent approach to the development of a path towards sustainable virus management.’’

Specifically, the group has asked for a clear explanation of the key metrics, thresholds and milestones officials are tracking to judge performance.

It wanted more information about New Zealand’s vaccine contracts, including when they are arriving, how many and who will get them.

It also wanted the country’s testing capacity and strategy, including any plans for enhanced community, workplace and surge testing options, the inclusion of additional testing technology such as saliva PCR tests and any other changes to the testing regime, published.

And it wanted to know about any plans for a more automated approach to tracking and tracing, including health passports and other technology.

Rob Campbell, who chairs SkyCity, Tourism Holdings and Summerset, and is chancellor of Auckland University of Technology, said it was time to prepare for a future which managed Covid19.

This included government transparency in the plan to open the border to allow business to connect with customers, international students to return and safe travel to Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said he would look into the business leaders’ requests.

Mr Robertson said the business community had been heavily involved in the response to date, including the vaccination programme.

Auckland Airport and Chorus chairman Patrick Strange said the most recent community cases proved the virus was now firmly part of how New Zealanders lived and worked.

‘‘While widespread vaccination will mean the pandemic phase will pass, the virus will continue to be a risk that threatens poor health outcomes and overwhelming the health system.

‘‘As a group, we share the strong desire of the New Zealand business community to support the country’s response to Covid19 in any way we can.’’

Dr Strange said the business leaders strongly supported the Government’s efforts but wanted more information on a longterm strategy.

He said one example was saliva testing, which several private companies were using and the Ministry of Health was looking at it.

‘‘But we don’t have the information. Well, this is months on — we needed to have a strategy when that strong recommendation was made and all work together on it and we’d all be in a better place.’’

Dr Strange said Covid19 would not be eliminated worldwide, and New Zealand was going to have to manage it. More investment was needed ‘‘right now’’ in better tracking and and tracing technology. — RNZ