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Dear John, We are all, in our own way, grappling with the reality of another lockdown of undetermined duration. My heart particularly goes out to the tens of thousands of Kiwis whose plans have been disrupted by the sudden move to Level 4 – building projects left in delicate phases, shops with fresh produce gone to waste, people with big functions planned or, sadly, with funerals for loved ones disrupted. Kids in homes without internet or devices who will miss more days at school. The next generation of taxpayers who will have to pay off a few more billion dollars in debt. To return to Level 4 more than a year after the first time is a disastrous result for the country. It’s a pity, we look across the Tasman at what is happening in Sydney and many conclude that it was inevitable. But Australia, which has handled things very badly, is not the yardstick we should be using. Look to North America and Europe to see countries widely vaccinated and putting hard lockdowns behind them. It is our negligently slow vaccination programme that has left us caught with few good options. We’ve seen a government focused on everything else under the sun – but on vaccines (the primary task for any government in the first half of 2021) it seemed to think saying “we’re at the front of the queue” was all that needed to be done. Far from it. Every time I hear another media report that the government is ahead of its schedule for the vaccine rollout my blood pressure gets worse. The schedule was always a farce. Too complacent; too slow. My only hope is that now all our resources and focus will be on this one lever that we can collectively pull to plot some path out of the spectre of rolling lockdowns for months to come. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. I got my first on Friday, the first day I was eligible – by rocking up at the end of the day without a booking. The people running it couldn’t have been nicer. I feel a bit crusty, but what’s new? Let’s use the Covid tracer app, look out for our neighbours and, if there are kids in your bubble, let’s do our best to keep them educated. Small acts of kindness can make such a difference. My office is open remotely, and an email to [email protected] will be responded to. All the very best for the days ahead.
Paul Goldsmith |
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