As we take the next step in our plan to reconnect with the world, I know many people here in Mt Roskill and around the country will be looking forward to reuniting with family and friends from overseas.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Thanks to changes announced, vaccinated Kiwis overseas can now return to New Zealand without entering MIQ or having to self-isolate. This means travellers upon arrival can immediately connect with family and friends, as long as they test negative within 24 hours of arriving.
This is an important step in our COVID response, and one I know many people have waited on for a long time for. Being separated from loved ones has been, for many, one of the hardest parts of the pandemic. While it’s been tough, this effort has saved countless lives. Our border controls have resulted in New Zealand having fewer COVID deaths than most other countries, and ensured we could protect more people with boosters before Omicron spread into our communities.
More than 70% of people aged 18 and over have now had their booster, which is fantastic to see. If you haven’t had yours yet, I’d really encourage you to get it as soon as you can. Boosters are our strongest weapon against Omicron, offering an extra layer of protection and reducing your chances of ending up in hospital. Getting boosted could save your life, and it will also help protect our more vulnerable community members through the current outbreak.
As our Government responds to the immediate impacts of Omicron, we’re also making sure we set New Zealand up for a strong recovery. A really important part of this is our work to protect jobs and strengthen our economy.
You may have seen that we’ve just signed a historic free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. This is a gold standard deal that will cut costs for our exporters and is expected to boost our economy by up to $1 billion. It’s come at a crucial time in our COVID recovery, and I’m sure it will bring huge benefits for our regions.
This month, we also rolled out the new COVID Support Payment for businesses most affected by the outbreak. I know many businesses here in Auckland have already received payments, and I’ve been pleased to hear this support is making a difference, especially for our great local cafes and restaurants.
The latest figures show our economy is resilient, with record low unemployment and debt lower than forecast. However, as the past two years have demonstrated, it’s hard to predict what’s ahead. Our Government will continue to manage the economy responsibly, ensuring we invest in key services like health and education while keeping debt down, to ensure we’re prepared for whatever comes next.
As we continue to face the COVID challenge, I want to, once again, say a huge thank you for everything you’re doing to keep our community safe. The next couple of weeks as we deal with the Omicron peak may not be easy, but I know that if we continue to work together and keep up those important health behaviours, we’ll make it through. – Michael Wood – MP for Mt Roskill, Minister of Transport, and Workplace Relations & Safety, Deputy Leader of the House
