Only 1 case, but no early move on levels
Government to stick to timeline for level 1
New Zealand has just one active Covid-19 case but Finance Minister Grant Robertson refuses to be drawn on the possibility of lifting restrictions earlier than expected.
Robertson said New Zealand had done “incredibly well” in the fight against Covid-19.
The Government was flexible and would review alert level settings on June 8, he said, and he reiterated the Cabinet would look at moving to level 1 no later than June 22.
But he would not commit to action when asked whether having only one active case made it more likely that the Cabinet might consider whether New Zealand was ready to move to level 1 earlier.
“The worst thing of all would be for New Zealand to move backwards again,” he said.
The one person who still has Covid is in Auckland DHB and is aged between 50 and 59. The most recent Auckland case in that age group was reported on May 1.
The definition of recovered is “people who had the virus, are at least 10 days since onset and have not exhibited symptoms for 48 hours”.
It appears the person in question has had the virus for more than 10 days, 29 in fact.
Robertson said the increase in the limit on gatherings to 100 people made New Zealand one of the most open societies and economies in the world at the moment.
Queen’s Birthday Weekend would feel much more like normal life for many New Zealanders, he said.
He said the weekly economic update from the Treasury yesterday showed that heavy traffic was now 5 per cent below normal levels, electricity use was above pre-covid levels, and electronic card spending was now about equal to pre-covid levels.
Ministry of Social Development
data showed an increase of only 384 people on the Jobseeker benefit for the week of May 22, while the wage subsidy had paid out $10.97 billion to 1.6 million workers.
He welcomed transtasman cricket rivalry that will resume this summer for both the men’s and women’s teams, and wished the Warriors well in their return to the rugby league field.
Robertson said repatriation flights were still being worked on to help New Zealanders return home in a Covid-hit world, and 760 active cases were being looked at.
He said 2600 Kiwis and their families had flown home on 76 Government and private repatriation
In the oddly-contested Epsom electorate, the fight for votes already has Labour putting the boot in. Or perhaps its best foot forward.
A painting of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — in oil, on a gumboot — is about to be offered for sale by Labour’s local electorate committee as a fundraiser.
The image offers the unusual prospect of a second-hand gumboot from the Waikato turned into a fundraising artwork in one of the wealthiest electorates in the country.
Chairwoman Moira Macnab has yet to settle on exactly how it will be sold but is inviting offers from those wanting to own the distinctive gumboot.
“It is exceptional and really appropriate, particularly after Covid-19. We needed to get on this thing boots and all — to really stamp it out.
“We’re putting it up for offers. Part of the value is that it’s extraordinary. I can see it in Te Papa. It belongs somewhere special.”
Labour has chosen lawyer Camilla Belich, mother of two and married to former party general secretary Andrew Kirton, for the seat held by Act leader David Seymour, who is standing again. National’s Paul Goldsmith, a List MP, is a candidate again also.