Tom H

You should see some of the leaflets we've had from the anti vaxers round here, quite alarming the stuff they come out with.

If the rumours from the Tourism sector are true and that Ms Ardern won't open the borders until every New Zealander is vaccinated, then that's going to hit this country hard. It's not just tourism, there's also employment that'll get hit. productivity may decrease due to a shortage of workers - and what's to stop fully vaccinated people from moving elsewhere?

There is more chance of us and Australia having an exit strategy on this issue than getting a needle into someone that thinks this is caused by a nasty 5G tower.

Pom_Chch

And what proof do you have that this is true apart from a 'rumour'? And how do the tourism sector know this and no one else in the country does?

scrubbedexpat094

I do know that the army has been contracted until at least the end of 2022 to assist with the running of MIQ facilities.

Given how small NZ is, then it's not surprising that the tourism sector has a head's up. I knew ages ago that the number of DHB's were going to be reduced, although getting rid of them altogether was welcome news. Same with the water companies.
Friend of ours knew about the initial deal between Ardern and Peters because of her pregnancy, before it was announced and she's not in Government or working for a political party or Government agency. She just knows a lot of people. The deal was initially for Peters to take over for 6 months, not the 6 weeks he ended up with.

Pom_Chch

And? Seems sensible, but not necessarily a given that MIQ will be enforced until the end of 2022.

I see your points but none of those points have any bearing on opening up the borders again.

It's almost impossible to vaccinate 100% of the population. More to the point it's just a rumour and a pretty bold claim based on no evidence. Let's wait and see what the government actually decide...

LittleGreyCat

You will never get 100% vaccination.
Apart from anything else there will always be individuals who see that as a power position - you can't open the borders because I won't let you.

I am assuming that once the vaccination roll out had managed to get to nearly all of the willing then borders will start to reopen, but with only double vaccinated people allowed in.
So anti-vaxxers will probably be prevented from travelling abroad (or, at least, returning) and the borders will gradually open up to double jabbed tourists.
I hope!

Tom H

Here's some reports on how these things called rumours begin. Rumours that I hope are just that, and wont become true.

First of all, Jarden downgrading Auckland Airport and Air New Zealand
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...JRW4F2QYHJBJE/ - for those that don't pay for this, it mainly mentions about the battering the aviation industry has had is set to continue for at least 2 or more years

Secondly back in May, the new normal from Chris Roberts (who I know has been giving advice along with many others today)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/...-over-and-quit

Now onto todays news
The risk of the Delta variant, yet still the most dumb dumbing decisions to not offer the Astra Zenca to New Zealanders. I'd be more than happy to have that vaccination since there's way more chance of me being killed by a local on the road than getting a clot.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-...RQNLVKVO3I5A4/

This was back in June identifying the governments stance on their zero Covid stance and how its almost going to practically be impossible
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2...-immunity.html

All these not surprisingly allow individuals within sectors to do something called talk. Usually this thing known as talking results in potential things being put out there called rumours. Sometimes a rumour will come true, sometimes a rumour won't.

There are things called Newspapers, Online websites as well as Government/Business Announcements that lead to things called rumorus materialising.

Forgot to mention, Airways and other major ANSP's are forecasting 2025 to be the year when International Travel returns to some sort of normality.

Pom_Chch

Thank you kindly for clarifying what a rumour is. My point remains the same - at what point has anyone ever said that NZ are going for 100% vaccination? I mean a reliable source, not your your colleagues girlfriends cat...

scrubbedexpat094

Just to clarify, I haven't heard any rumours about 100% vaccination rate being required for anything to happen!! That would be an impossibility in any population.

Pom_Chch

Exactly, it's almost impossible so people are making it up or misunderstanding 🤷‍♀️

Timmy Chch

Although on the government ads on radio it mentions "when everyone in New Zealand get 2 doses.... we wont have to lockdown anymore"
They can say this cos they know they'll never get everyone. Appreciate they dont wish to name their target of say 75 or 80% of eligible people but 100%/everyone is a bit much too

Charismatic

Glad to see border reopening going ahead. I think that will reduce any fence sitting, it needs to be clear to everyone this is only going in one direction now and tne unvaccinated will be left behind.

If you look at the UK statistics it's clear that once you have the highest risk half of the adult population done the pressure on hospitals is minimal. The rest is just the cherry on top.

We're nowhere near that level at the moment unfortunately, still very much in the danger zone.

LittleGreyCat

Looks so far that there will be several phases.
(1) Later this year selected Kiwis can leave NZ and then come back with minimal or no quarantine.
(2) First part of next year, Kiwis currently queuing for MIQ slots can come back if fully vaccinated and tested.
(3) After that visitors from "approved" countries who are vaccinated can come to NZ.

So visiting family in NZ looks to be possible second half of 2022.
Travellers may have to go to an intermediate country for a while if their home country isn't considered well managed.
Hopefully we can get in sometime around Xmas 2022.
As long as something else doesn't hit the fan in the meantime.

Bo-Jangles

In media 'stories' yesterday they talked of the approved countries being those that have already been considered relatively safe for some time' - including Niue, Vanuatu, Samoa, Cooks and specific corridors for Pacific Island workforce, Aussie when they get their latest outbreak under control, Hong Kong and maybe Singapore. The article I read yesterday said most unlikely that it would include the UK.

Justcol

all the important major places then 🙄

I've been in parks bigger than half of them, I'm not even sure they rate as county's

Charismatic

Did the Prime Minister flee Auckland today after the Covid-19 news broke? If there is one thing we've learned this week if you see a Prime Minister fleeing you should try to keep up.