COVID-19 update 19 October 2021

>> Good afternoon.

Today, I'm joined by Minister Peeni Henare who will talk about our mighty vaccination campaign and Doctor Bloomfield who will talk about a booster shot for immunocompromised New Zealanders.

First I will hand over to Doctor Bloomfield who will talk about cases today.

>> Thank you, Prime Minister and kia ora koutou katoa.

Certain cases are in the Waikato.

The new take cases take our total in this outbreak to 2099 and of those 1384 have recovered now.

Of today's cases, 53 are yet to be linked to a current case but interviews are underway.

What I would say is that all seven of the cases in the Waikato have already been linked to existing cases.

Of yesterday, 60 cases, 19 of those remain unlinked at present with investigations ongoing.

Today there are 38 people in hospital with COVID- 19 and all of those are in the Auckland region.

Five are in either ICU or a high dependency unit.

Yesterday there were 12,688 swabs taken across Auckland maintaining the high level of testing there which is important and necessary.

And there were 16,921 tests taken or protests processed around the country.

Testing continues right across Auckland today with 19 centres in operation including 13 pop-up centres.

As I said the seven cases in the Waikato today have all been linked and so now only two cases from the total number in the Waikato area are unlinked.

From last week and two cases are reported on Sunday, investigations continue on.

There is regionwide testing continuing across the Waikato and it is very important while it remains an alert level III to help inform our advice and decisions later in the week about the ongoing status of the Waikato.

Testing is available across Waikato.

Please look at the Health Point website.

Or the Waikato website.

Anyone across the area if you have not been vaccinated yet today is the day to do it.

Please check on Book My Vaccine as to where you can get your done.

Onto vaccination, the COVID-19 technical advisory has recommended that individuals aged 12 and over with severe immunocompromised receive 1/3 primary dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 dose.

It is important to note the third dose is different to a booster dose for the general population.

Severely immunocompromised people are at high risk of severe outcomes for COVID-19 and because of their immunocompromised may not produce a sufficiently strong immune response to just two doses of the vaccine.

So the third primary dose can be of benefit in this group and that it includes those who are taking immunosuppressive therapy is for example if they've had a transplant, before or after their first or second dose of the vaccine as well as some individuals with chronic diseases.

The technical advisory will continue to review the emerging evidence for a booster dose and when we have received an application from Pfizer and advice from the technical advisory as well as a decision by Cabinet we will be providing further advice around the progress with booster doses and we will have an update on the current status around booster doses.

In terms of the outbreak in Melbourne, Auckland regional public health services are supporting 84 cases across 55 households.

To safely isolated home.

This is part of an interim approach while we finalise plans involving primary care including GP clinics and others as well as community providers to support people to isolate safely at home.

This criteria for isolating at home are based on both a public health and clinical risk assessment and take into consideration factors such as a person whether they live in a residence that allows them into their household to isolate safely away from others ensuring they have good phone and internet access, that they can use their own transport to safely access the testing centre when testing is required, that they are happy and comfortable to isolate at home.

And that they have got all the supplies they need for example masks, food, cleaning products and so on.

The planning for this approach has been underway for some time and is a key part of managing COVID-19 in the future.

It was outlined last week by Minister, Health Minister Andrew Little, and this is a key objective of our ongoing approach across the health system to better manage COVID-19 cases in the community safely.

And finally yesterday I was asked about the number of people who are pregnant to have been hospitalised during the current outbreak.

Based on the latest data we have there have been five cases reported where those people have been pregnant and they have been hospitalised as part of the outbreak.

You may recall last month, in September, while noting the good work by done by Auckland during alert level IV, we have noted we have seen unvaccinated pregnant people arriving at hospital and quite unwell because of the virus.

I would like to reiterate that there is now very clear at evidence from experience globally, indeed our experience here, that vaccination is not just safe but is highly protective for pregnant people and there are no additional safety concerns in pregnancy.

Vaccination at any time in pregnancy helps and I encourage everyone who is pregnant to talk to the health professional about getting vaccinated if you have not already.

Back to you, Prime Minister.

>> Thank you, Doctor Bloomfield.

Before a handover to Minister Peeni Henare where we will have some reflections on our Maori vaccination campaign, a couple of comments on today's cases.

The highs and lows of cases is incredibly hard on people, especially those in regional areas, we are not powerless, we have the ability to keep cases as long as we can.

I spent some time talking about the rest it does make yesterday but a reminder again of the cases we are seeing in Auckland right now are not confined to one part of Auckland.

They are across 124 suburbs.

I say that only to remind everybody that the rules matter for everyone.

And our asked of testing if you are symptomatic applies to everyone, in fact, this morning in our briefing, a particular focus from the public health team on the fact they have a positivity rate, so the amount of testing relative to the amount of positives coming back that is of concern to them on the North Shore.

If you are on the North Shore experiencing any symptoms even if you have been vaccinated please do go and get a test, and to everyone, please remember this outbreak is not in one part of Auckland.

I think the second interesting observation is that the highest number of cases today are across the three age regions that are least vaccinated, the 39 years and under, keeping in mind that 12 and under are unable to be vaccinated.

We need everyone who can be to be vaccinated.

If you are young you are sadly not invincible.

12 of our current hospitalisations are under 39 years of age.

We all have a part to play.

There are two things I ask of all people in Auckland.

Again, do get vaccinated.

There are 158,522 eligible people in Auckland who have not had a first dose of the vaccine.

Within this group, the virus has the potential to spread and we really need to ensure you are vaccinated so that we can ease restrictions with low case numbers.

Today I'm also urging all those eligible to get their second dose to bring that forward and get it as soon as possible.

If you had your first dose more than three weeks ago you can now get your second.

The quicker we can get people fully vaccinated the greater the community protection we have against the virus.

If you're watching this at home now make a plan to get vaccinated this afternoon.

There are plenty of walk up and drive the options, go to COVID-19.

GOP.

nz.

I will just reiterate again, for anyone please, do still stick with those rules.

The beginning of the outbreak we used to stay -- say the phrase stay home and save lives and that still remains the case.

I know it is hard but we are so, so close and we know that vaccinations are already making a significant difference to the outbreak in Auckland but so too are people following the rules.

Yesterday, Cabinet decided not to move Auckland back into level IV is a circuit breaker because we have the ability with the restrictions we have now to keep making a difference.

Again, we have unfortunately continue to see cases reported today that have come from non- compliance of level III.

Staying home, limiting contact, only catching up with people outside in groups of 10 and getting vaccinated are all actions we can take to stop the virus from spreading.

None of us are powerless.

I will now handover to Minister Peeni Henare to address the Maori vaccination efforts and then we will open up for questions across anyone on the podium today.

Minister Peeni Henare.

>> Thank you, Prime Minister.

(SPEAKS TE REO MAORI).

Can I thank all Maori providers, practitioners, vaccinated and staff and everyone who has worked callously does track tirelessly over the last 18 months on this response and now as part of the efforts to vaccinate everyone.

Your efforts are being seen.

In the two weeks prior to Super Saturday I travelled to a number of DHP is to better understand the challenges and successes in the vaccine were allowed to marry people.

I saw grout -- I saw great work but identify challenges.

When a primary care is critical.

To our practice nurses and practice support staff, GPs and nurses who were on board, thank you so much for your help.

For those who are not on board can I ask for your help too.

Our family need you and for many of them knew other trusted person that will be key to them making an informed decision about the vaccination.

Significant funding has already been provided to Maori to support and build capability for the vaccine program.

Our communities are going the extra mile to support one another to get vaccinated and I know on Labor Day in some counties heroes in the street campaign is happening.

Our Maori GPs, nurses and community leaders are going street to street on buses to engage to encourage vaccination.

If you need support to make your decision, get your information from official sources or you can speak to one of our leaders who are leading vaccination rates amongst the Maori communities.

As the government we will be making further announcements to support the Maori vaccination effort later this week.

We have seen the threat to this current.

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We have seen the threat that this current COVID- 19 outbreak is to the well- being of Maori communities.

With a total of 560 Maori cases recorded in the last two weeks, they have made a 45% of total cases versus 28% throughout the whole outbreak although sobering the numbers reinforced by vaccinating our communities is so important.

Speaks to -- (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) so I say to the Maori people, COVID-19 is on the doorstep of your houses.

Do not let it enter.

The best course of protection still remains for us to vaccinate our people.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

>> Thank you.

We will open up for questions.

I will start with Gina?

Then to Jason.

>> What are the reasons in the past that you don't want to stated that makes it a target, not taking into the account Maori populations?

In that vein will the goal you announce on Friday take Maori vaccination rates into account?

Is there a specific target you need to?

>> We've always been concerned about ever creating a space where anyone interprets that there is room for people to be left behind.

And so yes, we've been thinking about that in the work we are doing and we will share more detail around that on Friday but what I would say is the work that is going on right now with our Maori providers and that we need to make sure we are providing all the resource required is critical.

And regardless, that leads to continue -- needs to continue, until we reach everyone.

Even when you talk about vaccination milestones that will never be the end of our vaccination campaign.

I will not stop until I've had a conversation, or no, but we are reaching out with many people as possible and ensuring they know why it is so important to be vaccinated.

>> Would you be comfortable with any easing of restrictions for Marie to reach 90% double dose?

>> We may clear the restrictions in particular electorates are to protect other communities which is why the Prime Minister has already mentioned vaccination is key not just for the Maori population in the Te Kauwhata but everywhere.

Some communities acknowledge it hasn't been there and there is a form of apathy towards but as I said in my comments, COVID-19 is on the doorsteps of our houses so I need to make sure that we can continue to drive up vaccination rates.

>> Whilst we will not make announcements about Friday but we are already seeing that it is now not just.

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.

I don't think it's fair to say we have this blanket unvaccinated group.

Actually we have a group of particular young people.

Our rates for older Maori are high.

We now really are narrowing and honing in on the young people in certain parts of the country where it's at roughly 72%.

There were young people with other parts where we need to focus in on.

They don't get real or that it affects them yet.

>> But it does affect them.

Will you get a commitment to Maori people.

>> We will be talking about more detail on Friday.

>> You referred to people who were not on board within some of the community leaders.

You were you referring to and who is not on board with the vaccination rates?

>> I'm referring directly to the number of PHOs and GP clinics I met with personally as I went around the country.

They made it clear their focus is on those on their books and that what -- they will continue to provide the normal healthcare they would.

They are called monitoring the situation with respect to the vaccine numbers and I implore them to continue to help drive up those vaccination numbers.

>> Just doing the day-to-day job and they need to stick.

>> I am a double acknowledge that there were a number still involved in the vaccination process and heavily involved and I acknowledge them to.

>> Jason?

>> In your opening comments you said in a number of cases they are coming from non-compliance.

We are seeing the highest daily count which seem.

How many of today's cases, can you give a figure of people who have been non-compliant?

>> I can't necessarily break it down but I can tell you 39 hazard today our household contacts of existing cases that you expect that relative proportion.

We know some of the cases we have today are from social gatherings and as I've already said from some of the analysis that our teams on the ground have done in the past they've identified that one of the significant contributing factors are those social indoor gatherings.

>> What can we expect to see with triple digit?

>> We continue to look at the overall trend from what we see from cases.

Continuing to tell us that we have an R value of 1.

2 and 1.

3 so to get some clarification, the reproduction value of that rate, we will see cases continue to rise.

The best way that we can get in front of that is by following those rules that we have because they set out how we can stop ongoing transition but also being vaccinated.

There is already a view that vaccination is making us does make a strong difference to the upgrade but I don't want people to riot at this stage.

The rules also need to be followed.

>> Joe?

>> You said in your opening comments that when you travel around the DHP usual some great work but you identify challenges and others.

Can you elaborate on the comments please?

Which DHP's are having troubles?

What are the challenges and what is being done to overcome them?

>> So some of those challenges are around the funding distribution and the speed at which that has been put out into those community providers in the Maori health providers.

I've also noticed a lack of strong leadership amongst the community and including the DHP with respect to what is required for the vaccine rollout.

Those are but two of the challenges that I noticed and I will give the example.

We heard from Maori health providers that they were dissatisfied with the job the DHP was doing.

We met with the DHP and can now confirm that 16 are working together to roll out the vaccine in the community.

Only two have decided not to be involved but the door where is -- dog will continue to be open to them.

>> They have been slow at delivering, the DHP's, or doing a massive reform because of that.

Given how late we are into the vaccination role that now, that money was available for Maori health providers, Visio, you having these conversations now, have the Maori people been let down by the failure of DHP to do the job with funding?

>> The first announcement at the beginning of the year with direct funding from the Ministry of Health to Maori health providers which sidestep the DHP.

As the program continue to rollout and the DHP plays a critical role in the region to secure the vaccine and deliver the vaccine to our providers in the community, we did for the second lot of funding through the DHP and that has proven problematic.

>> Your position on this tour, the director-general of health, are you happy with the way, the role the DHP's have played you?

The Minister just said there is not leadership and some of them.

Is that good enough?

>> Overall, I'm very happy with the role DHP's have played and I think what we have seen here in the Minister was referring to this, there is variability across the DHP's.

Some of them have built on existing outstanding relationships and partnerships and got some very good results.

We can see across some of the DHP's very high, across all of them, high coverage which is excellent.

An variation across the DHP's.

Very much related to the strength of the relationships and the speed with which they can provide resources out now we are addressing where performance is not as good as it should be, we will support DHP's and local providers.

I don't think so.

>> You have communities who have been let down by the failure of DHP's and now we are at a point where it is nearly November and we are no closer to finding whether failures are?

>> I don't think that's fair at all.

We've been talking about some time for the need to have good coverage of our vaccinations across the board.

$87 million has gone roughly into specifically targeting vaccination programs that are reaching into Maori communities.

We had similar drawers with specific communities.

We need to make drawers for groups we haven't reached as much as we want to fight.

I did it fair to say we have not focused on this issue or the DHP's have not been doing work.

We are now drilling into, as the Minister said, drilling into some very specific relationship issues that exist, identify what exactly is happening in those relationship issues, where it is breaking down and how we can help.

>> October Maori in October, but there are still issues are my point is we have the rollout for some time.

Maori has been outside from the outset right behind from the outset.

Why is it only a problem?

Maori should feel left out.

>> I disagree.

Every point in the vaccination campaign we've been trying to ensure we have an equitable rollout.

Of course, as you see the results coming through we can see whether results need to be more highly targeted but again, it is not across the board.

In some areas we've seen fantastic rates and programs, even in some communities.

I would not want to cast just this generalisation across everywhere, but yes, in some areas, we do need to be doing better, absolutely.

And we want to identify where those are issues with driving demand, relationship issues, we need to better support providers, but they are conversations that didn't start just in October.

Sorry, before I come back across.

>> (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI)

>> (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI)

(ANSWERS IN TE REO MAORI)

>> (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI)

>> (ANSWERS IN TE REO MAORI)

>> OK, sorry, Amelia and then back to Eric.

>> When retail and hospitality can reopen will they be required to shut down for 14 days if a staff member tests positive?

>> That all comes down to the new public health guidance that will accompany the expectations around the new framework and they are some details we will speak to on Friday.

>> Any detail on what support might be put in place when the cases are linked?

>> Again, economic support will accompany the new framework and we will go into detail on Friday.

You can expect, as you enter into new highly vaccinated environments, there will be ways that we can alter the way we deal with cases and contacts of cases.

Because risk, in the risk of those vaccinated individuals or those around them, can reduce.

We need to build that into the way we work with contacts.

>> Prime minister.

>> I will come here and then to the front with Eric.

>> Is a good enough for community leaders need to fund raise for the mobile vaccinated clinic?

Can I do think that we expressed our frustration already about this but I can tell you already the work has been done to solve this particular problem and it is being expedited.

>> To those who organised it?

>> I have spoken to the Maori health providers and DHP.

My expectation and it was my direction in fact that they all sit down and work it out together.

I can also say that despite the fundraising effort they have already been three mobile clinics that have gone through and we need ongoing support for Maori health supporters.

>> There was a campervan moving around the area at the time and of course there has been more.

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There is also a bus that was used in two horse floats refitted and used on the coast as well.

Obviously there has been an identified gap that should be filled and as the minister has said there is an expectation we work through that and resolve it as soon as possible.

>> I did so coming to Derek.

>> Sorry Kementari -- no, sorry, that was part of my frustration.

I sat with Maori health providers on the first day and I asked what further tools they needed to be fully participating in Super Saturday and nobody mentioned anything about a mobile planning.

>> Talking about the health communities.

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.

To have the rollout, action the rollout, that targeted funding, why was it not done the same as the first time and provided to Maori health providers directly?

>> Was provided on the DHP's on the discussions we had with Maori health providers and other times we felt that most haven't spent the money get that have been delivered in the first branch.

The second tranche was to go the DHP to be able to put in plan those Maori health providers and we had all agreed on that which was why it was done that way.

>> Prime minister.

>> In addition.

>> Yeah, it.

>> Once again to the prime ministers point, the inconsistencies across the number of the DHP, a number of them are doing absolutely fantastic and the money is out the door quite quickly but in other cases it isn't and that is the problem we will be fixing.

>> If I can for a moment raise, the minister is right, I would hate for this conversation to lead anyone with the impression that actually we somehow don't have the same goal.

Everyone does.

The DHP, the Maori providers, the providers have actually sat outside of health but a driving demand to vaccination centres because not everyone here is a Maori health provider, everyone has the same goal.

But this is actually really hard work now because now, we are actually needing to go out and street by street, town by town, have to have direct conversations that had a lot of resource and the question is, how do we get it to people more effectively if there are barriers, how do we get over it?

How do we make sure there is nothing standing in the way of anyone who wants to lift those rates.

>> The providers provided aplenty DHP's to do that in February including a vaccination bus.

>> On balances we look towards the rollout of the vaccine as it stood in February.

It was our belief that we were able to do that better and what I mean by that is of course the cool store requirements for the vaccine were very different back at the time that that particular application was received to what we now know.

>> At that time we had to have supply in a constrained way.

We have to make sure we were managing the distributions.

Now because you can see bosses and things like that, mobile units, being used often.

In some funding has gone directly to TDK and distribution through final order as well.

>> The media Maori ages 26.

That age group under 30, they were not eligible in the rollout with the first dose from September 1.

>> Except with the other approach.

You will not skim over that, Derek?

>> In general, those under 30, the first dose from September 1, was that a mistake?

>> I don't think it was.

What we also note that Maori health providers were clear for the first half of figure that they do not having a structure to be able to deliver on the kind of scale that we required which is why we did the sequence plan like we did.

No, I don't agree with that.

>> Also remembering we had constrained supply for the message we were sending was actually if you have someone coming in who is eligible, do the whole fanu .

To everyone at the same time, we gave everyone applicability, but it doesn't we get captured by the H -- age bracket.

It was specifically distributed to those purposes.

>> Last week, Minister Roberts was asked about the public that my public health advice and released that expedited and said he would say to you.

As he brought that here and watch the progress?

>> I need to go away and check that anyone who wishes to ask for any differences between Cabinet decisions and public health advice you are always free to do that here and we openly answer those questions.

The rest goes through the usual OAA process but I can check in on scheduled release days but if anyone wants us questions on those decisions yesterday in advance of that release you should feel free to do so.

>> The general policy the Cabinet adopted in 2018 says in 30 business days it should be productively released.

>> I can go and check on that.

I don't think anything and they will surprise you because we are very openly share any potential differences and what we decide.

The only thing I would say is because we based on the information we achieve and cases that morning, sometimes the public health advice will be written 12 -- 24:48 hours prior so sometimes the verbal advice from the director-general can differ a little bit from the Cabinet paper.

Yes?

>> Back to Maori vaccination rates, half a million doses, but whanau ora , do you wish you'd move Senator?

>> We started our rollout we have really constrained supply.

We did not have the ability to do what we do now with large numbers of doses across the country.

The public health advice, we needed to focus in on those who were confronting COVID at the border.

Those two had comorbidities.

Those who were in the older age bracket and we also prioritised whanau because we have a limited supply we have.

That was the basis on those decisions but I think it's important to remember in February we did have very limited supply but it does not stop us trying to reach those who were at the greatest risk of COVID at that time.

Anything on that, Minister?

>> No.

>> Minister.

>> How many of today's 94 cases are alarming to Kementari the breakdown we have at the moment, we're sitting of 30.

Cases in the last 24 hours.

39.

4% Maori, 36.

2% European or other, 4.

3% Asian, 14.

9% Pacific.

>> Thank you, my minister.

With Marie being vaccinated, the donations directly, in the transition from elimination.

>> I reject the idea of lower prioritisation.

I really do.

>> The underrepresentation of Maori rates currently, overrepresentation of Maori in the update, do you think the government support response by teachers -- reaches enough to?

>> Know and keep in mind the profile of this outbreak has moved dramatically.

In the beginning it was well over 60 and sometimes over 70% Pacific.

Huge rates there.

And of course, you will know the approach we taken in our rollout, what we probably need to keep doing is looking at the Pacifica rollout and what we can do to keep learning across the country with the rollout because those numbers have been in some areas really exceptional.

It has been a changeable outbreak and there has been differences in our vaccine take-up across different populations.

>> Do you believe the government's response in automatic treaty?

>> I've been quite clear and you will see in the Cabinet decisions that have been made is that we kept whanau at the front of our decisions and I'm comfortable with that.

>> We are talking as if this campaign is done.

It is not.

We are still vaccinating and still working very hard to vaccinate everyone we can.

And to provide answers to questions that people have an actual we have community providers who are trusted working on this campaign.

Anything we have constantly said is that we support any innovation because we know that community.

>> Asking about community involvement.

>> OK, I still stand by my answers.

>> If the supplies were short in February and March, why did you not agree to prioritise Maori and Maori health practitioners proposed.

Is that the reason why so many Maori groups are so far behind al- Qaeda >> I guess I would question what evidence you use because we want to make sure we are reaching our older Maori community members and our older Pacific community members and those who work at the border or have COVID mobilities -- comorbidities.

>> Young Maori were not prioritised.

>> It does mean we followed an aged based approach except the wedding we decided we wanted a approach.

Whanau Approach.

>> Ken Bird is saying he doesn't want that community to be vaccinated with Pfizer, he wants to wait for something else.

What is your view?

>> He has already said what he will do with my view but I was there recently.

They had one of their highest vaccination days there and it was beaten by Super Saturday in Murupara and so they are turning up to be vaccinated and whanau is turning out to be vaccinated and we believe it is the safest vaccination.

We were clear about that.

I would encourage everyone in Murupara to be vaccinated.

It is safe and effective.

Anything on that, Doctor Bloomfield?

I do owe you one and then I don't think you have one.

 

And we will finish in the corner.

Time?

 

>> (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI)

>> (ANSWERS IN TE REO MAORI)

>> (ANSWERS IN TE REO MAORI)

>> I've also got a question for Doctor Bloomfield.

Is it acceptable for a COVID positive person to be told they need to go to the nearest testing site and get their contested while they themselves have COVID?

>> Yes.

We do have people who are positive cases, in particular people who are maybe isolating at home, and they do go out for testing and community sites.

And I understand there was a particular situation in Auckland where the communication was not as good as it should have been in there were some issues with them getting the test result back and asked the team to look into that.

>> Should I COVID positive person should be contacted by a nurse while waiting for instructions either to be moved or.

>> It depends on the circumstances and normally we would expect daily contact.

There has been some delays in getting into.

And transportation from Hunter quarantine facilities over the last couple of days because of the case numbers and so we are looking at how to expedite that.

But I know this person has now been contacted this morning and arranged -- arrangements were made.

>> The DHP's in Auckland with the growing number of cases there, and how many other DHP's from the rest of the country are having to pitch in?

>> The DHP's in Auckland have got good plans in place both in the hospital setting and as I mentioned in my opening comments they are now rolling out a community-based model of supporting whanau to isolate that letter.

We have a process in place to get stuff from around New Zealand to support if they need that but they have been preparing and there are plans in place.

>> Sorry, I'm going to make sure I cover those and then we will wrap.

>> Some quick ones, Jason picked up on this but have any of the 94 cases J been related to or connected to that well- publicised North Shore party?

>> I asked that specifically because I knew someone would be interested in asking and the response I got was that was to the best of their knowledge know at this point.

>> Apparently the Ministry of Health has not sought legal advice of the introduction of vaccines certificate or does not seem to have while other agency have.

Why has the Ministry of Health receive such legal advice?

For vaccines certificate?

>> I don't believe I would consider that necessarily an accurate question so you are claiming we have not sought crown will support a vaccine certification development.

Is that correct?

>> If you have caught -- sought legal advice yourselves.

>> The point is whether or not there is legal advice regardless of the agency sector.

>> You are satisfied there is no right issue a place?

>> Yes.

Where we are utilising them we have good grounds to.

>> The only thing I would say is that there has been a lot of liaison with the privacy Commissioner as well around the privacy aspects around vaccine certification.

Just as there has right through the program with the rollout of Book My Vaccine and other elements of the program.

>> Next and I will finish.

>> A question for an Auckland collie, people around this time of year planning for Christmas and New Year's.

Should people in Auckland be preparing for a normal Christmas or should they preparing for level III or.

>> As we said yesterday we are acutely aware that people in Auckland cannot continue to live big week by week.

While we are still finalising the detail of some of the framework we anticipate we will move into in a highly vaccinated environment we have already signalled that we anticipate being able to give more direction to people in Auckland by the end of the week.

When it comes to the issue of the border we are also doing additional work on how we can manage the competing interests of the rest of New Zealand where they predominantly do not have COVID cases and ensure their safety but with the knowledge that those in Auckland will need to be able to move around.

>> Following that.

>> Just the plan I have for you.

-- Have a planning is in the shortcomings that you've seen in the DHP's in particular over the course of the unit as far as Maori are concerned, in your own mind, you've indicated your own pressure to get a Maori Health Authority.

>> Yes.

>> All right, thank you very much, everyone.

>> I already answered that question early this morning.

>> Healthy sitting in 10 minutes.

>> I can pick that up off-line.

That's no trouble.

We can follow that up.

>> Thank you.