The Whangārei Town Basin playground - closed because of the Delta outbreak. Photo / Michael Cunningham
The Whangārei Town Basin playground - closed because of the Delta outbreak. Photo / Michael Cunningham
FROM PARLIAMENT
We have now entered alert level 3 or higher for the fourth time involving new outbreaks since coronavirus first came to our shores in early 2020.
The first time was the initial outbreak involving mostly international travellers in March 2020. The next was the Mt Wellington Americold outbreak in August2020.
This was followed by the Valentine's Day outbreak in South Auckland in February 2021 involving many Pacific Islands' people and now we have an outbreak in August 2021 that is still to be named but may well be called the "school" outbreak if early figures involving schools continue.
In each instance coronavirus came across our border in ways we both know and don't know.
The source for the Mt Wellington Americold case for example has never been determined. The current thinking on this outbreak is a MIQ failure.
Each outbreak comes with consequences. Each time our over-stretched health system stretches even further in lockdowns.
Our health workforce deserves plenty of support for what they do and we need to figure out how to make all of this sustainable for them because they and the border are our front line.
Coronavirus takes all the oxygen out of the health system yet people still get cancer and diabetes and have strokes. The health journey of life continues regardless.
Education takes a hit with disrupted learning and children and families forced to adapt to new ways of learning.
The economy is affected in short, medium and long-term ways. Some examples include short-term estimates for the current lockdown at $1.5 billion per week. Medium-term effects include locking out our $5b international students and long-term effects on tourism and hospitality are immeasurable and for many unrecoverable.
On top of all of this is the mental health strain as social networks and familiar daily structures fragment.
On one level this all seems just hard, but if I had to do this anywhere I would chose to do it here in New Zealand with all of you.
If we have to fight this brainless, spineless piece of protoplasm that is too small to even see with the naked eye then I want to be amongst my people. I want to be in a country with clear skies, clean water and that over produces food.
I want to be where there is some sense of a democratic and transparent government where I can see the levers and drivers that can and can't be pulled and it is clear what is being asked of me the citizen.
Right now we are asking New Zealanders to make a vaccination choice and to adopt social measures including social distancing, hand hygiene, cough hygiene and mask wearing.
I support the vaccine and we have absolute control over the social measures and really the question isn't why to - but why not.
We are good at picking ourselves up off the floor and fighting another day. This lockdown is that other day so let's now get on with it and I choose to do it with all of you.
• Dr Shane Reti is deputy leader of the National Party and a list MP based in Whangārei.
