The question top of mind for many people is when we will be able to return to travelling internationally – not just for holidays, but of course for business and to reconnect with family members overseas – without the burden of lengthy quarantines.
Sadly, nobody knows the answer to that question and much remains beyond our control – whether the virus mutates further, what happens in other countries, what happens at home.
In January, Jacinda Ardern gave the gloomy prediction that restrictions may remain all year.
As I write this column Australia has just temporarily suspended its travel bubble with New Zealand, which allowed Kiwis to travel there without quarantine (not the reverse) because of a community transition in Northland.
Small gains can be wiped out so quickly.
We can only hope to have some control over things in New Zealand.
The imperatives of controlling the border properly and in the managed isolation facilities remains paramount. The better we do that, the sooner we will be able to improve the flow.
Second, we need to get on with the vaccination roll out quickly. On this score, New Zealand seems to be well off the pace.
We should match Australia’s schedule and fast track the vaccination of all frontline workers and border staff.
We need to do this as quickly as possible to protect New Zealanders from the harm of further restrictions and lockdowns.
Five hundred thousand people depended upon the wage subsidy when the economy was shut down in 2020, with about 65,000 losing their jobs.
For many, the cost of another lockdown would mean they lose their job, their business or their home.
After frontline workers, we need to vaccinate vulnerable groups and then have a plan for the rest of the community. All this seems far off.
If we manage the border effectively and get on with vaccination quickly, then we give ourselves the best chance to join some travel bubbles and get back into the world.
Hon Paul Goldsmith National List MP Based in Epsom
paulgoldsmith.co.nz | 09 524 4930
