Dear john, 

The PM has just announced we will in 48 hours move to "Level 4" in the Covid-19 alarm scale, the maximum amount of control to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Right now we have moved to "Level 3" meaning there is a heightened risk the virus will not be contained and we need to take extra steps to prevent community transmission.

Tomorrow schools and early learning services will close for all but the children of essential workers. Parents will receive further direct communications about what this means. Tertiary providers will shut as soon as possible.

In 48 hours we will move to Level 4, meaning all non-essential face-to-face businesses and physical interaction must stop. We are all instructed to stay at home from that time. These measures are needed to give New Zealand the best chance possible of stopping tens of thousands of deaths from coronavirus. I completely support them.

The next 48 hours before we move to Level 4 is intended to give people a chance to get home and get our lives in order ahead of a period of at least 4 weeks of severely limited physical interaction.

Essential services will continue to be available during Level 4 - including supermarkets, pharmacists and banking services. So please do not “panic-buy”. The Government will announce further measures to support the incomes of New Zealanders during this time.

Your job now is to stay local, be solitary and avoid physical contact with those outside your household. We need to look out for each other: from behind-closed-doors.

The Government has National's full support during this crisis and in its decision to elevate New Zealand's alert level. We will work in a supportive and constructive way in the interests of New Zealanders. We have offered the Government the services of our MPs and staff to assist wherever we can.

I am here to serve so please keep coming to me with your questions and concerns.

Kia kaha: we will get through this together.

Best wishes,

Nicola