Dear John

A Happy Easter to you and to those in your bubble. I know these past few weeks have seemed surreal but I hope you have at least enjoyed spending more time with your family and catching up on repair projects or cleaning around your home.

We are nearly 3 weeks into our 4 week lockdown. While a lot of uncertainty remains over what life looks like after lockdown, one thing for certain is that life will not resume as usual and we must prepare for further discomfort if we want to eliminate this virus from our shores. Either the level 4 lockdown will be extended, or we will go to some redefined level below 4.

This redefinition could see restaurants and cafes open, albeit with staggered seating, random sampling and check-ups in public spaces like malls, limited travel between major cities, and continued closure of large public events. Expect harsh border restrictions to be in place for some time.

Whatever life looks like, a key lesson from the Spanish Flu in 1919 is not to remove social distancing and lockdown restrictions too early. Doing so puts our country at-risk of receiving second or third ‘waves’ of the virus, which could be much deadlier.

The balancing act here is that our economy has all but ground to a halt. Businesses around us are collapsing and many people locally and nationally are permanently out of work as a result of Covid-19 and the lockdown.

National understands your frustrations with the lockdown and its impact on our economy. We are working closely with the government to get them to clarify what life means beyond the lockdown so that businesses can begin planning and employing again as quickly as possible.

Impact of COVID-19

Covid-19 and its fallout is forecast to have a devastating impact on our economy, regardless of how quickly we are able to eliminate the virus from our shores.

According to the OECD, New Zealand will see an initial quarterly drop of almost 30 per cent in economic activity, compared to about 15 per cent in Ireland, 22 per cent in Australia and 25 per cent in the United States. Westpac predicts that the unemployment rate will rise sharply to 9 per cent, before stabilising at 7 per cent, and government debt will more than double by 2022.

Globally, the IMF warns that up to 170 countries will be in recession due to Covid-19 in 2020 and the WTO is predicting that the global recession will reduce world trade by up to one third. None of this bodes well for a trading nation like New Zealand.

What’s worse is the likely social impacts of our diminished economy. As more businesses go under and more people are laid off work, anxiety, mental health and depression are likely to become more pervasive throughout our society.

If you’re feeling the negative effects of Covid-19, please ensure you take advantage of available government support at this time:

Wage subsidy and income support
Mental Health support
Tenant or landlord support

Support Local

Once out of lockdown, we will all need to do what we can to support our local businesses as they struggle to re-open and generate enough cash to stay open. #SupportLocal is a great campaign established locally by the Birkenhead Village community and I would like to encourage you to do this right throughout our Northcote community.

Last week the Government announced more businesses could operate online and with contactless deliveries during lockdown. Some of our great local butchers, bakers, and artisans have opened as a result. Be sure to try and support them.

Helping our Most Vulnerable

It is crucial that we look after our most vulnerable at this time. That’s those over 70 or those who have serious underlying medical conditions such as asthma, lung/kidney/liver disease, heart conditions, compromised immune systems or diabetes.

Our most vulnerable are most susceptible to COVID-19 and we must minimise their trips out of the home.

ISOLATION is a website run by some committed locals and matches those that need help at this time with volunteers who are able to help out. If you’re able to volunteer to run groceries or small errands for our vulnerable neighbours, or if you need help yourself, please click HERE to register.

Epidemic Response Committee

The Epidemic Response Committee is a virtual Parliament select committee set up to retain a measure of oversight while Parliament isn’t sitting. It has proven a real success. Chaired by National Leader Simon Bridges, it continues to ask the questions that New Zealanders want answered to ensure the highest standards of health care and a fast-economic recovery from this crisis. 

I would encourage you to tune in to the livestream of the committee (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am) either by visiting the National Party Facebook page, on Parliament TV (Freeview Channel 31 or Sky 86), or on the Parliament website.

Thank you to our local essential service workers – from supermarket employees to air stewards and maintenance staff. Every day you risk your health in order to keep our country running and we can’t thank you enough!

Remember, my office is here to help! Contact us on 09 419 8021 or [email protected].

Stay safe

Dan Bidois
MP for Northcote