COVID-19 update 5 October 2021

Kia ora koutou katoa good afternoon everyone.

>>Firstly, I’ll hand over to Dr Caroline McElnay for the latest update, before making an announcement on vaccination certificates, then I’ll hand over to Shane Hunter, the Deputy-Director-General of Data and Digital at the Ministry of Health, and Michael Dreyer, General Manager of National Digital Services, to run through how this vaccine certificates will work, which is why we have the screen today

>>Thank you, Prime Minister and Kia ora koutou katoa

We have a detailed one clock statement today so I will keep my update on today's cases short

There are 24 new community cases today

18 of these cases are in the Auckland region and six are in the Waikato region

There are also two cases to report on recent returnees and our managed isolation facilities

Of today's 24 cases, seven are yet to be linked to a current case but interviews are ongoing

For yesterday's cases, there are eight cases that remain unlinked and again, investigations continue

However, I do want to say that all of the Waikato cases are linked

The remaining 12 active sub- clusters where there have been recent cases and these are the focus of our public health response

The key ahead, we estimate from the number of already notified cases and their contacts, we would expect an additional 48 cases to come through in coming days amongst those contacts

The two best tools we have and continue fight against COVID 19 our testing and vaccination

And the numbers for both continue to be steady

Yesterday, 14,905 tests were processed nationwide

12,595 swabs were taken in Auckland with more than 84,000 swabs taken across the area in the past seven days

There are 22 community testing centres open across Auckland today

In Waikato, additional testing capacity has been stood up at the testing sites around the region and teams there continue to see high demand

Pop-up sites are continuing around Raglan and Huntly

Estimates nationwide can be found at the website

Waikato District health board has not identified any locations of interest or significance in Hamilton city at this stage

However, as the Waikato continues to undertake their investigations with the new cases reported, there may be additional locations of interest and they will be added to the Ministry of health website as they come through

The DHP has informed us that indication so far is that prior to receiving positive tests, the households affected have been following guidance about mask wearing and social distancing

Lastly today, seven weeks since our first case of COVID 19 associated with this outbreak in the community

And when New Zealand moved a heightened alert level

I would like to thank New Zealand is for their efforts during these challenging times

We do ask that everyone keeps up good habits that help?

Helped us deal with cases of COVID 19 and have got us to a we are today

That includes getting tested, staying home as much as possible, wearing face coverings and keeping track of where you've been

We know from experience overseas that COVID 19 is becoming a disease of the unvaccinated

So please book yourself in today at my vaccine

So please book yourself in today at https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/

if you haven't already had the vaccine

>> Yesterday, cabinet decided to keep Auckland at alert level III

I know many people were hoping to move down to level II but the number of cases and our level of vaccinations are not in a place where we can do that safely

Instead, we shared what a phased step down from attrition will look like

Beginning with what the public health experts advise us are the safest measures, meeting outside with one other household up to a maximum of 10 people, allowing outdoor recreation, and resuming early childhood occasions, again with infection control measures that include maintaining bubbles of no more than 10 children

These measures are aimed at carefully and safely relieving some pressure on Auckland's to make level III just a little bit more bearable while we keep fighting hard to contain Delta and get our vaccination rate up as high as possible

Even with these changes, Auckland will continue to have amongst the toughest restrictions anywhere in the world

I know that's hard work but it is hard work that is literally save lives while we vaccinated is about the people

Now we just need to keep going

As we've said from the start, the vaccine is a ticket to freedom

The most effective tool we have the lower restrictions and bring back some of the things that we have missed

We can already see how the vaccine is protecting people in this outbreak

Delta is literally bypassing vaccinated people and relaxing onto the unvaccinated

Recent case highlighted this

We had an individual who was unvaccinated in their household, not one of their family members who were vaccinated got COVID

Only 3% of cases in this outbreak have been vaccinated and modelling suggest the vaccine has reduce infections by around half of what they could have been.

So the evidence is clear, the vaccine works and is safe

In conversation we had with a range of providers across different DHP is, those working with our young people, you hear the reasons why people may be reluctant or taking a bit more time

Some are waiting to see the long-term health impacts

Some have questions they just haven't found a trusted person to ask

Some do not leave COVID will ever affect them and it's not important enough

I want everyone to be able to satisfy themselves that the vaccine is safe, but I want them to do that now is the impact of waiting is just too great

Waiting put people at risk and also makes it harder for those parts of our lives that during COVID have been considered high risk to come back to life

So overcome this issue and make these events safer, many countries have you something that is often referred to as a vaccine pass or certificate

Simply put, it's proof that you are fully vaccinated and that you are therefore posing less risk to the people around you

And that an event you attend is less likely to become the source or the site of a large super spreader event

These are now common overseas and they make sense

That's why cabinet has agreed to the use of vaccine certificates in New Zealand, as a way to help give more certainty and greater safety of high-risk events and venues

The question that everyone will rightly have is how widely will be applied?

That is work that ministers and agencies are currently undertaking and reform the basis of a new framework for us to use as a nation, once we have higher vaccination rates

We are consulting on this framework now and I will assume more detail in the coming week

Here are some points I can share now

We will use it as a tool to lessen the risk in what are currently considered high risk settings, including large-scale events

We are also consulting on the use in places like hospitality

There are areas we will not apply them, so the people are not restricted from accessing things like essential health services or for instance, food from the supermarket

The certificate will take the form of a physical document that you can download and print, or carry in digital form on your phone

And finally, we will release the detail of the framework in advance of it taking effect, so people will have time to prepare

B ut indicative Lee, when likely to begin using them in November

These points form the draft framework we are now consulting on

While we finalise details on where the certificates will be used, cabinet has agreed we will be using them

It's one of the best ways we can assure that summer plans can go ahead uninterrupted, or help us to keep people safe and help the industry with as much certainty as possible

So here comes my ask, please get vaccinated now

Summer is close and so to be fully vaccinated and fully protected, and enjoy the things you love, you need to be vaccinated this month, not in December

I encourage you to talk to your Dr or someone you know who has had their vaccination

It is located seek advice and vaccine centres are incredibly welcoming, informative places and there are nurses and health professionals there who can answer your questions

The best is present to your family this year is to bring forward your vaccination immediately

Now I will hand over to Shane and Michael to hand over how the vaccinations if it will work and then we will look to take questions

We start with questions for Shane and Michael and then we will bring the Dr back on to the podium

>> Kia ora koutou

Thank you for this opportunity to run you through these three slides and then will give you a demonstration of my COVID record and take you through some of the features of what we have looked and let you know what is coming

I had someone driving the slides earlier so if you could flip forward that would be great

J ust to let you know the phases that we intend to roll out, firstly, we will be making available soon the access to your COVID vaccination record

Within a few weeks of that we will be, late this month we intend to make test results accessible via my COVID record

Then through November we will be making the vaccination certificate that the Prime Minister referred to accessible and downloadable

Those are the dates that we are currently working towards

The in order to access your vaccination record information, you will need my health account

Or if you already have the real me, you will be able to use that to access your vaccination records

We will give you a quick demonstration on somebody who is logging in using the My Health account

We won't go through the process of creating one but I can tell you that it's a nice simple process to get one

You will arrive at a website which we will publish when it is formally released, and up the top right you will see in the middle roughly that if you don't have an account then there is a start button which will take you through the process of getting one

If you do have one, you can log in which we will do now

This is already set up for a login, once you have logged in it will know who you are, it is retrieving the data and will present your vaccination record

You see this particular person has one vaccination and they have the opportunity to look at the detail behind it

You will see the name of the person vaccinated, there will be a batch number and the location of the vaccination, the arm or the site of the actual vaccination and which vaccination was used, in New Zealand is the Pfizer vaccine

You can book yourself your second appointment

And then we have at the bottom links to get up a travel certificate if you need one at this stage and if you find something incorrect in the details there is a link for you to communicate and we have a team of people looking at errors when they find

Just pointing out one of the other features we have on here, that is the ability to get your NHI number in a scannable form, the NHI number is used in the system quite widely but in particular for testing this will help speed up the testing process for people being tested and maybe have not been vaccinated

That's why we put that they are, your NHI number in a scannable form

I should point out that at the bottom there is information around COVID vaccines, COVID tests and access to a privacy statement for people interested in the privacy of the system

And this picture to say you can download the certificate as was mentioned before, print it or carry attended legible form, we are using an app that will verify, to say that it has not been fraudulently created, that will confirm it is a valid certificate and away you go

And the last slide here is to say it is designed to work on a mobile device as well as on a regular screen on a website

It is mobile friendly and you will see the four components we talked about today

That is the demonstration

And we can take some questions

>> I will moderate on behalf of the team

>> Why not incorporate it into the existing QR system?

>> Wien New Zealand use Bluetooth for the COVID tracer app, the privacy aspects mean we are not allowed to as part of the Google Apple agreement allowed to incorporate it into the app

There will be a link in the app, you can find locations of interest and it will take you to an external site, you can find it in the app but it is not part of the app if that makes sense

>> We try to make it as user- friendly as possible while complying with the rules of engagement

>> Eventually would you be able to use (inaudible) would you keep it as a web app long-term?

>> At this stage it is a mobile site, probably in January we will move it

Once we learn more about how it works

>> Are you keen at some point to (inaudible),

>> At this stage we need to keep the paper form available for people who don't have access to digital technology, that will be here for a while

>> (Inaudible)

>> If you have it in electronic form it's the equivalent of paper, you don't need both

The paper is there for people who don't have electronic form

>> It might be useful to point out that because we are mindful of people being able to access the website in order to create their account and print off these documents, we are looking for easily accessible ways for someone who might not have these forms of technology to visit a health provider and have it provided for them

We will look at multiple ways people can look at it, and some of the options might be GPs or pharmacies

>> What sort of uptake are you expecting on this when it rolls out?

>> For the use of the vaccine certificate, anyone who may need to use it for access to what we are loosely calling high risk settings

You will have heard me say we will use it for large-scale events, we are consulting on the use in wider venue such as hospitality

The use will be dictated by the people who require them to exercise the venues

>> Is that going to be a government decision?

>> For large-scale events, there will be areas we will look to mandate the requirement

I would put things like large- scale events under that category

What we are also looking at in circumstances where we may not mandate the use but an organiser who might sit out of the mandate my wish to use that

We are looking at how we can create a legal framework so people can use it for their own purposes

>> (Inaudible)

>> This is us for warning you that if you are booked to go to a summer festival, while we are continuing to work on the framework and some of the details, this is a heads up, you will need that vaccination certificate to be part of that event

>> Some of the smaller businesses who are perhaps that not those high-risk menus, their staff being put at risk because they would have to enforce compliance, they would prefer it to be government mandated

>> That's why we are out talking to those industries and we can see from the alert ovals, the groupings of -- alert levels, low risk versus high risk

We are talking to hospitality industry,, is this something you would find useful as a tool to keep your workforce safe and to ensure greater continuity check that you could stay open and how can we make sure we implemented in a way that makes it as easy as possible for you?

Those of the conversations we are having with the industry now

>> So it couldn't be government mandated?

>> Final decisions in those areas have not been made

>> Churches?

>> Some areas are more sensitive, social gatherings that are privately organised, church events in that category

You will see that overseas they have tended not to be used in those spaces

That's where we are having conversations around what kind of measures to those organisations want to have in place to keep their people safe and if it means you can have more people, is that it tool you would like to use?

They are open conversations but that is an area where we will be very cautious and learn from overseas

>> Mandatory for teachers and early childhood teachers to be vaccinated?

>> Can I finish off vaccine certificate so we don't unduly detain our ministry officials?

>> On the legal framework you mention, for a company that may not be required by the government to use the vaccine certificate, will they still have the option?

>> That comes to Derek's question, three things we are currently working through, one of the things we wanted as we are working through that to give you a heads up is we are trialling this and it's been widely used with some individuals

It is likely you would hear about it as you have today

And the second reason is we know we will use it for large-scale events so we need to give people fair warning of that

In the meantime, the three things we are working on are, yes, areas we would likely mandate, those high-risk settings, how do we create a legal mandate where we haven't mandated it but someone wants to use it, how do we a enable that in certain parameters?

And the third is areas where you cannot use it, some areas we want to be explicit where you cannot withhold services considered essential food, access to health services and pharmacies

>> Retail may not be mandated

>> That is what we are working through at the moment and it's a good example

>> The general advice as it takes about two weeks after your second dose for immunity to set in, what is the point?

>> That would be one of the things we would want to consider as well around the implementation date

We have broadly said November but what we would do at that point is give clear advice as to what point we will consider you fully vaccinated, is that you have had your two doses or two weeks after?

You are right, this is a good reminder, it's not just a matter of people thinking I have got my vaccination, fully vaccinated as 14 days after your second

>> Specifically for people who can't get the vaccine or other vaccines be made available?

(Inaudible) if people can't get the Pfizer vaccine

>> We will build in the ability to take into account will turn vaccines as approved within New Zealand

We are already, as you would have seen, taking into account overseas vaccinations for people coming in at the border

Yes, we will have provision for those limited circumstances under which someone could not be vaccinated

>> Would a small private health care provider not be able to (inaudible)

>> This is where we will put out clear advice on where we believe you cannot and should not apply to a vaccinated certificate

Overseas the mandating is around high-risk settings, they are less inclined to be used, and some of it is practical, having to produce a vaccine facility -- certificate every time you go into a corner dairy

It is about what is practical

>> (Inaudible)

>> We are working on the vaccination framework as we speak but think of them as two different pieces of work

The reason for that is if we have an environment in the future where, heaven forbid, we have a form of COVID that does not respond to vaccines, then you need to revert to your alert level framework

It sits squarely around a vaccine framework man vaccines are effective in dealing with and reducing the risk of COVID

>> If you're a vaccine efficacy rate drops

>> We would be able to incorporate any variation into the way the app works, keeping in mind no decisions on posters at this stage

>> Will it only be proof of vaccine that will be able to be used?

In some places you can produce negative tests

>> All of these are issues we are considering within our framework but I note that some countries that have previously used it tests as an alternative, if you want to access a place with a vaccine requirement you have to have a test within 72 hours, some of those countries have removed that, for multiple reasons, some because they want to encourage vaccines and some the ongoing cost

All that evidence we are looking at

>> Would that testing Option B

>> The best way to guarantee your entry to summer festivals would need to vaccinated

>> Would there be a way of people to prove they've been vaccinated overseas?

>> We are working through documentation for New Zealanders who have been overseas

Someone who is visiting, we would need to make sure we have within our health orders the ability to factor in their documentation

I know for instance in some places in the US they require vaccine certificates, there they have accepted New Zealanders carrying their Pfizer card

Speak?

This is a question about boosters

Just in terms of the details and what guarantees can you give that they will be secure?

? I will answer that one

We have obviously taken advice and was very carefully with the privacy counsel

We've tested it thoroughly from a security point of view and ultimately, it will be your record and therefore your login and password, so you will need to look after it

We have taken every step we can to make sure the system is secure

>> Will be rolled out in places like why Tony in February?

Why tangy inERIKA:?

>> There are conversations going on about having their own tool for an eventful types of this is considered an extra tool for organisers who already figured how to make make events safe

So yes, we are considering all sorts of events and we will have to make sure that what we do is fit for purpose for those larger scale outdoor and indoor events

Of course, very different again if you have an event that is not ticketed

So we're having to think through all of those details and make sure what we're doing is practical and workable

That's why we're talking with the sectors

One thing I should correct myself on, you are fully vaccinated after two doses, you are fully immunised two weeks after your second dose

>> Prime Minister, do you think that you will have to legislate to ensure this framework is going to be appropriate ?

? I do expect that, yes to stop I believe within the COVID orders

So don't hold me to some of the finer details of that yet because that is still being worked through

$$TRANSMIT

>> So it may not need to go through Parliament?

It could be in terms of the existing orders?

>> I don't want to be too mature?

Immature in the process of that will have to go through this stage

>> A question for your officials about what controls will be on venue organisers in terms of recording QR code's, taking list of names and people coming in and out

>> I think it would be fair to say the detail of that is being worked through, in terms of what the expectations are and how it will work

I would expect that privacy will feature very highly in all of that

>> Some of the checks you might have in place of course, if you are providing an event, a vaccine to forget, the possibility to crosscheck those names against ticketing information stop at a venue, someone may wish to just simply check that your name is as you presented and so on

A6 like that

Those are things we are talking to the sector about

How can we make any process like that as seamless as possible so it doesn't lead to undue congestion for large events or venues

>> In reading a QR code connected up to the ticketing information and the sign next to it saying this person is vaccinated?

>> Of course, we would need to make sure that in those circumstances we are very clear on what information can and cannot be retained

$$TRANSMIT

>> How do you safeguard against someone downloading their vaccine certificate and sharing it with someone else and that person who isn't vaccinated then using that certificate

We'll need to be checked against the government form of ID?

>> Some of the protections around what the QR codes provide?

>> One of the things we are creating is a flying app which will allow event organisers, for example, to scan that QR code and confirmed that it is valid, in the case that it is being fraudulently created

When it comes to those sorts of checks and balances, that will be worked through with venue organisers

$$TRANSMIT

>> Working two mechanisms to allow that to be a check against someone's identity

That's the kind of thing where working through in a book more detail

>> Given that we're not the first to do it

We can look at overseas examples and how they've added those verification processes in the way that protects privacy, but also allows you to move through a group quickly

>> Will you offer any support to event organisers who can see a lot of people asking for refunds as a result of this?

>> I'm hoping you won't see that

Because it's a very simple action that people can take, in order to ensure that they are still able to attend

The vast talk of the feedback that we've had so far from event organisers is that they would welcome this

In some cases, they have been considering whether it would be applied themselves

It's very straightforward for them if it's something that is government mandated

One of the reasons I think we have seen very open-minded positions from event organisers, is because it's been used overseas

Some are connected to overseas organisations and event organisers are familiar with it

Parent companies have already used it

And it just gives a greater degree of certainty

Not perfection but a greater degree of certainty that those events can go ahead

Speak can you give us guidelines of 500 people plus and when it becomes a mass event?

>> So as I've said, you can expect it for large-scale concerts, festivals, number of those events that occur across summer

Absolutely that is where we intend to use it

We're then looking at the application of numbers across both indoor and outdoor and where that threshold would sit

That is one of the things where consulting on

Then we looking at alternate venues as well

>> So tertiary providers could require this?

? I see access to education very separate to what we're seeing with this with setting

For?

So some are talking about being denied entry they don't have a vaccine certificate for private dwellings? Would the government introduce mandated without have to do at home visits? Speak the issue of where people have contact with vulnerable measures of the community and whether they should be vaccinated, a very separate issues

Using vaccine certificate for people to access public housing, no

>> Just check on how we are going on vaccine syndicates

>> And Mark you have one more, then we'll finish without and bring?

Back

Spivak just to be clear, if you want to go to a festival, you need both doses and you need to wait 14 days?

>> That's the point I was making

Would not yet made a final decision on whether or not it will be fully vaccinated or fully immunised at the point that we are using it

That is something that we are continuing to work through

>> Two questions, one, if we do use it and allow testing requirement, would those tests still be free or would you expect them to be paid for?

>> That's the interesting journey that I think Germany went to where it first they allowed a testing exemption, then they started requiring people to pay for it

Eventually they got rid of it

I believe it was Germany

And you can see, I think we're either on the cusp or have just passed, Henry will correct me on this, first doses for Germany

So you can see their level of vaccine, they are obviously using it as an additional tool to try and drive up vaccinations

Personally, I think we'll be looking for something that is both workable and simple

We know that being tested within the previous 72 hours is not a guarantee

So I think we'll be looking for some sympathy

-- Simplicity

$$TRANSMIT

>> A fire at the venue operator might be using, what will show up and they see that QR code?

Will it just be a checkmark that this person is vaccinated or names? What sort of information?

>> It will be a checkmark and there will be a name

There will be no detail that you can actually see on my COVID record

My COVID record is for you, the certificate is ultimately to give you access, for example, to an eventful study will have the bare minimum information needed to support that

>> Thank you very much

I'll ask to make a name to join us again

See?

So if vaccinations were to make it an entry for teachers and early heart childhood teachers? A speaker with very just of the able to provide parents, and children with as much safety as we can

At the moment, the Ministry of education is looking at a suite of tools available to us in how vaccinations are used in an education environment, particularly we're thinking here about staff, how do we use masks and how do we use testing?

>> He's getting some advice at the moment but we're looking to make announcements over the coming week in preparation for the future opening of schools

$$TRANSMIT

>> Will you be looking to make it mandatory?

>> As I said, we're looking at all three of those tools that we have and vaccines are tall

We are however considering all of the impacts

Top of mind for us was we have a group of children here who can't be vaccinated

We need to do everything we can to keep them safe and so the three options that exist for us other way we use vaccines, testing and masks

$$TRANSMIT

>> When you made the announcement, we got a lot of feedback about people being confused and having too much detail but not having specifics

Do you feel like you would have done a different job of communicating that or do you think you should have done a better job in mitigating that?

>> I think what people are looking for is what's next?

So with resented what next but ultimately, the very important piece of information for Auckland is is that they are still at alert level III

There are three changes within that will not be moving beyond that until of course we continue to assess both the outbreak and vaccination rates

I think people ask for both, often

They want to know it happening immediately and they do want to know what the future might look like, even if we are not ready to move to that playset

>> Can I ask a question, without reports that they are wanting data and information about people who are not vaccinated

Is there a reluctance to handover or share that data and isn't that the kind of ring that we should be doing given our reliance on vaccination rates now?

>> I'm not aware of any reluctance

Obviously within the constraints of privacy that exists

I'm not aware of any reluctance on the part of a provider for stop certainly are providers are very focused on getting a vaccination rates up for our most vulnerable groups

Very focused on getting Marie rates up

I'm not aware of any particular issue there

Spivak to you at least acknowledge that confusion and are you concerned about?

It's important isn't it?

>> My job is to continue to convey the information that people need right now

Auckland is at level III

This only three variations so that now

The ability to meet another household outside, the ability to engage in a bit of recreation across Auckland and ECE

That's it

Were not asking anyone to do anything different from those things

They remain at alert level III because of the moment we are still working very hard to control that outbreak, and of course to vaccinate people

>> Is a talk of a COVID wonder drug and is New Zealand looking?

Speak Mac we have been in talks with that pharmaceutical company and have been for some time

For commercial reasons we won't get into any more detail than that on that negotiation but those talks do predate the more recent announcements that you've seen publicly around the success of that drug and clinical tries

>> Just on boosters, can you give us a bit of an update around where the government is at that?

Have they been purchased, and if so when do you expect to be rolled out in New Zealand?

>> Taking into account the number of vaccines that we have ordered, would actually serve us for the purposes of this to?

Boosters, were they approved

Particularly that we have ordered an offer a New Zealand entire population and those aged under 12, if they are approved in the future, are likely to have paediatric dosing, which would be a third of the usual dose of an adult

So that already provides us with additional shots that could be used for boosters, were they to be approved

In addition, we are in talks with the pharmaceutical companies we may choose to purchase from to ensure that if they are approved, were able to secure those vaccines in a timely way

$$TRANSMIT

>> If they are approved, what's the timeline on that process?

>> It's not something that I can answer

It something we as a group of expert advisers to give us their perspective

I know that they have been reviewing the evidence out of Pfizer and looking internationally at the evidence

It would seem that actually there is a limited number of countries that are using boosters, where they are they have often been for those in older age groups

I don't think they would be inclined to call an additional dose for you know, booster

That's just used to provide the usual immunity of someone who would other eyes will require two shots

>> That's right

>> (Inaudible) 90% eligible population (inaudible) can you explain the difference between level II and level III?

>> The reason we have not put firm vaccination numbers alongside each of the phases is for the reason one of the issues was raised yesterday, we have a duty to make sure we are not just looking at crude numbers overall, we are looking at vaccination rates across different suburbs, different population groups, across different ethnicities

One of the reason for that is if you simply said 90% and it's fine, you could have for instance only 50% amongst 15-19 year old and that would cause potentially outbreaks among a particular age group because you always assume certain age demographics tend to move and mix together

We have been more nuanced than that

We have said instead we will look first and foremost at the outbreak, to consider both downward movement but equally if we find that people are not following the rules or we are concerned about where the outbreak is heading, we reserve the right to remove some of those changes as well

If that means saying we have to take away something we have given, we will keep that option on the table

It would be both the outbreak and vaccination levels

>> If it is seen as safe enough to move to level II (inaudible)

>> I'm saying it will be both us looking at the levels of vaccination but also the status of the outbreak

Continuing to drive it down, those numbers are low, of course you have less reliance on the vaccine, so both of those things we will be looking at

In terms of where those different phases, it is not unusual for us to move into different levels slowly

We've done it before

What we have signalled here is how we would do it

We have set out three phases were essentially if you look at them they are Auckland slowly moving into delta 2, the third space is essentially delta 2, the only thing we've done differently as we'd allow the wages subsidy to fly, it is a stepped process

Our view was it would not be likely we could do it in one go, in the same way we moved from lockdown in the first instance we didn't either

>> (Inaudible) if that has an effect on the fazed reopening

>> I'm not as black-and-white as you on that

That implies we are not continuing to take that stamp it out strategy with every case and we are

Despite the fact we have not yet reached a zero, changes nothing about the way we are treating COVID right now, we still contact tracers everyone, we Jew named sequencing, everything we do today is the same as on day one of the outbreak, we have acknowledged seven weeks of very hard restrictions have not got us to 0 so we need to plan around that but continue on with our aggressive approach

>> There is something circulating on social media that three people tested positive after going to the protest on Saturday

>> I'm not aware of the details

I can't answer that

Some of the cases when we do 11:30 are still being interviewed

It hasn't been flagged with me

>> We had a query from a listener who wanted to know if it is allowed under the recreational outside

>> We are asking people not to engage in overnight activity ultimately because there is a raft of different things opening up

We are saying recreational activity but the principles are simple, try to maintain social distancing, keep using your mask outside, of course we tell people to keep it to 2 households as well and with the recreational activity people might be able to engage with to keep it simple so people are not drawing on extract shared facilities or essential services, we are asking it just to be day trips rather than overnight

>> In terms of the reopening of New Zealand, what is this transition main

>> Forgive me, I intended to pick up the second part of your question

>> (Inaudible)

>> None of it changes that approach

Even with Professor SCEGGS, when we announced it we said elimination was our approach for now and that's what we said at the beginning of this outbreak

But we also indicated that over time we would continue to assess our approach and nothing about the reconnecting strategy was affected by that

First quarter of 2022 is when we continue to say we would have varied options away around the way we manage the border, shortened isolation and so on

>> (Inaudible) for people overseas they will be no reprieve before Christmas

>> No different to the position we have always maintained

I'm not sure why setting out a stepped approach for Auckland getting to alert level II would change that

>> Do you think you are putting pressure on Maori communities to get vaccinated, the vaccine passport unveiled today, there are concerns (inaudible), do you think you are putting pressure on Pacifica and Maori communities to get vaccinated, are you hoping that between this time period that you acknowledge there are concerns among those communities about why they are not getting vaccinated, do you think that between this time period they can stamp out those concerns about being vaccinated?

>> There is a job for all of us

The point I would make is I want everyone to be vaccinated but I want people to feel supported as they are vaccinated

You will hear me talk a lot about people having questioned and it's legitimate to have questions

I want to encourage people to seek answers rather than waiting, go out and find a health professional you trust or the provider you trust, even if you don't have a doctor or you are not enrolled with a GP, at our vaccination centres we have health professionals who are willing to talk to you about the vaccine

I want to encourage everyone to take that next step in if they have concerns, get help to address them

>> Given that for Maori and Pacific in the current outbreak, what insurances can you give to those communities that there interests were considered when the three-step phase was developed?

>> I would say we are still in level III, most thought yesterday as would we be in 2 or not and the answer was no to 2 and yes to restrictions because we need them

For the reason you raise

The other reason we have not put timelines on the other phases, despite that causing a huge amount of frustration is we need to continue to assess what we are doing is safe at every step

I cannot tell you when we will hit phase 3 because it will be guided by what is happening with the outbreak and how well we are doing with vaccinated

>> On Twitter it was told they had developed a rollout across the island and it was dismissed by the government and the Ministry of health, why was that?

>> I am not familiar with that, the last time I had a discussion we were working closely together

I'd be happy to look at what may have happened there

I know they were doing work with CPK, I will follow up on that

>> New Zealand rugby has gone back to the government to relocate the three MPC teams outside of Auckland and it's been turned down twice, what is the likelihood of the government agreeing the third time?

>> That is not something I'm involved with, thankfully, and I'm not involved in making decisions around that

Ultimately that needs to set, ultimately officials they are working with a set of criteria over who needs to legitimately continue to cross between Auckland border on a regular basis and they will be using that framework to make those decisions

>> On the Pandora papers, are you comfortable with companies like (inaudible) operating in New Zealand?

>> Rather than say anything specific about a given company or individual broadly I think there is more work to do to ensure our settings around foreign trusts are in keeping with the transparency and roles that New Zealanders would expect

>> I will finish with Bernard after Rebecca

>> Do you feel a bit of a shift change from yesterday?

People are feeling frustrated that this is the middle ground at least, criticism it leaves vulnerable communities exposed, on the other side is criticism that businesses can't get back to normal

Do you feel like you are getting that criticism from all sides?

Do you feel that frustration from Auckland?

>> You have probably described the job of being a politician in a pandemic

There are competing desires and always has been from everyone

Those in the middle of restrictions and those outside of them

The job we have is the same and that is to keep people safe

Auckland continues to be in level III that will be a frustration to many but that is because it is the safest option for us right now while we continue to vaccinate

We have made some small changes that come into effect this evening, but they are deemed by our public health experts, the ones we have relied on all along, to be the lowest risk options to continue to support and sustain Aucklanders as they continue with what are some of the toughest restrictions in the world

>> Considering the restrictions for specific Parra Pacifica and Maori vaccination rates are lower, what extra pack practical steps will be taken to increase Pacifica and Maori vaccination rates?

Will there be outstretched?

>> All of those things

We have taken the national approach is far as it can take us with the fact that we are very accessible centres, the ability for people to walk in, drive- through, drop ended a pharmacy or the GP, at the next stage, a hard bit for Auckland, the next 5%, that requires a varied approach community by community

That is where those different initiatives across different DHBs from Maori providers, Pacifica providers, that is where we have to give them the space and the support and the funding to tailor their approach for what they know is needed locally

>> A question on public health (inaudible), public health units are supporting Auckland now are you confident there is enough capacity around the country there is enough capacity to meet demand in the face of extra (inaudible)?

>> We've had a fantastic response across all the public health units and they are focusing to support Auckland and we also have Wakeout a public health unit -- Waikato public health unit involved and I'm confident we have capacity for the cases we've got

I think that is a crystal ball in terms of you will never be able to meet full capacity but in terms of our surge planning we are at a comfortable stage at this point

>> And it's why, as much as people want us to put dates on every single move that we may make in Auckland in the future, we have to assess what continues to happen with the outbreak as we go

We will look every week but for now, alert level III it is

>> Quite a few business leaders have called for urgent guidance on vaccination mandates, for both staff and customers, can you achieve the vaccination thresholds you want without quite urgent vaccination mandates?

>> We have entered into mandates when we believed there was a principal Behcet's ennui as the government could requirement and went down that across our border work force, and the health workforce and there may be others where we believe those principles would Willie Matt

Otherwise, we have provided for employers guidance about how they can undergo undertaking workplace health and safety assessments to determine whether that is something they require in their own workplace as well

We are doing our bit and workplaces have the ability to make an assessment for themselves

>> With the urgency of the issue, why not be more urgent about providing the mandates?

Because we're not in a position of managing vaccines for every New Zealander

Therefore what we have to do is divide assurance that the vaccine is safe and to assess where there are areas that reasonably, other New Zealanders could expect someone working alongside them, for instance, to be vaccinated

For instance, a healthcare setting for stop to ensure that we are doing our bit to apply that kind of principle where it is required, and Rick encouraging everyone else with as many carrots as we can, sticks where required, to be vaccinated

Vaccine certificates slot into that framework as well

>> So business leaders and directors will have to wait for courts to make cases?

>> I disagree with that

NB is already providing advice for where people can provide mandates

With the examples where customers are being asked to do that through a New Zealand

And we can see where they are working through that themselves based on the heat and -- health and safety risks

I did say was going to finish and then to stop

>> you did say public health risks but some of those people live in some of your most striking critics from yesterday's announcement

Have you been surprised by the depth of criticism that come to you?

>> My job is to feel the views of everyone

But I do rely on public health advice and will continue to do so for every single decision that we make

That includes whether or not or when we move to phase 2, which we have not set a timeline for

And the ongoing advice around every single step we take

Again, I would highlight the announce we made yesterday was that Auckland remains at level III

Would not set out when Auckland will move to level II, which was ultimately the decision of yesterday

What we acknowledge is that everyone would have seen that after seven weeks of some of the toughest restrictions applied globally, we haven't been able to get to zero at this point

So my job is to therefore set out what that means

So that is in part what we started to do yesterday

Talking about the fact that we will continue, very different to other countries, to take an aggressive approach with COVID

We always have and we will continue to do so, but also talking about the roles that vaccines can play if we're not going to use level IV and level III in the future

The thing I should also point out is that all New Zealanders, not just Auckland is, have asked us to find ways not to use those restrictions in the future?

So what we have set out is what it will take for us to be in that position

>> Are used to the personal supporter of the four-year parliamentary terms?

>> Yes I am but we are going through a process on that

I continue to support it but I also that I'd like to find a way to get a bit of consensus across Parliament on it

Thank you, everyone

We won't make anyone ensure more than an hour

Thank you