The Government has been accused of ignoring the South Island when it comes to a strategic approach to keep Covid19 out. On Monday, South Island business leaders and a respected public health professor voiced their frustration at the Government for not mentioning the South Island in an hour-long press conference. Chris Lynch asked every local MP to comment:

Christchurch East MP Poto Williams

Poto Williams said “The Government is working to contain the Delta outbreak in the Upper North Island and stop it spreading to any other part of the country, including the South Island. Our strategy for the whole country is the same – achieving high rates of vaccination and stamping out the virus wherever it appears. None of us are fully safe from Delta while it is in the country, which is why we all need to stay alert to it.” 

 “South Islanders has done a great job of keeping COVID out but as long as there is a Delta outbreak in Auckland it’s a risk to all of us, which is why the South Island remains at Alert Level 2 alongside most of the North Island. A move down to Level 1 would run the risk of the virus spreading easily.  Our plan to contain the virus includes significantly limiting travel out of Auckland to only those with an approved reason or undertaking essential business, and requiring testing for those who cross the Auckland boundary.”

 “A hard border on the South Island that locks it off from the rest of the country could mean no one other than essential workers could travel in or out of it. That would stop all other South Islanders who need or want to travel to parts of the country from doing so, and vice versa.  Such a policy would be particularly hard on those businesses and areas of the South Island already affected by the reduction in visitors from Auckland that would see travel from other parts of the North Island dry up. At Alert Level 2 nearly all economic activity resumes, and many businesses can fully operate. The main restrictions are on hospitality and gathering sizes, which the Government has gradually relaxed with the 100 person cap now removed so long as physical distancing can be maintained.” 

 “As we have seen rule breakers can get around even the best systems and people from Auckland and other Level 3 settings have made it to the South Island, so it’s important we remain on guard.”

 “New Zealand should be rightfully proud of our COVID response so far. We have amongst the lowest number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths in the OECD as well as as large number of days without restrictions, a strong economy and low unemployment heading into this outbreak. Our plan is to regain those freedoms as soon as its safe and when we have achieved high rates of vaccination.“

Port Hills MP Tracey McLellan

Port Hills MP Tracey McLellan said she was focused on working with the community to get as many people vaccinated as possible. “I raise issues that affect my electorate with officials and Ministers on an ongoing basis. The feedback I get from my electorate is that their top priority right now is working to stamp out Covid-19 and get as many people vaccinated as possible.”

 “The Government is working to contain the Delta outbreak in the Upper North Island and stop it spreading to any other part of the country, including the South Island. Our strategy for the whole country is the same – achieving high rates of vaccination and stamping out the virus wherever it appears.”

 “As we have seen rule breakers can get around even the best systems and people from Auckland and other Level 3 settings have made it to the South Island, so it’s important we remain on guard” McLellan said.

Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb

Duncan Webb said “of course the cut the cable / build a wall approach is as familiar as it is simplistic.” 

He said “even if greater restrictions were put in place the discussion immediately turns to what the exceptions are and the list grows long – freight, essential workers, compassionate grounds, education and so on. While we have a clearer line of demarcation than that of some parts of the North Island, no closure would be absolute.  In light of this, there will always be a risk that a case of COVID could find its way to the South Island in spite of travel restrictions and testing (not to mention human (mis)behaviour which we have seen examples of.  In light of such an ongoing risk lessening restrictions would be problematic in any event.  Further, while it may seem that such an approach would improve the South Island’s position this is not clearly the case.”

“Much of the South Island, and especially our resort areas, are getting important revenue from North Island travellers who are coming from regions with no COVID.  One of the real challenges with COVID is that some regions, sectors and businesses suffer more than others.”

“To cut off the North Island would be to exacerbate the problems of some of our most vulnerable businesses.”

“As local MP’s, we all advocate for what is best for our regions and electorates, while at the same time recognising that we need to act to protect all New Zealanders.  We are frequently in contact with Ministers and officials, and in respect of COVID our local MPs are doing their very best to support the DHB it its vaccination rollout strategy.”

Ilam MP Sarah Pallet

Sarah Pallet said “while I understand why some people feel we should be implementing a hard border between the South Island and North Island, locking the South Island off from the rest of the country would mean that no one, other than essential workers, could travel in or out. That would stop all other South Islanders who need or want to travel to other parts of the country from doing so, and vice versa.”

“A hard border, which places restrictions on the passage of freight could restrict essential food supplies and other goods which are vital for our South Island industries. Such a policy would be particularly hard on those businesses and areas in the South Island already significantly affected by the reduction in visitors from Auckland.”

 “The best thing that we can do to protect our community from COVID is to get vaccinated. Achieving a high rate of vaccination will allow us to remove restrictions when it’s safe to do so.”

Wigram MP Megan Woods

“I am in constant contact with the Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues in regards to appropriate settings for the South Island and advocating for our area.  At the Cabinet Table, myself and South Island colleagues, give updates on how the situation is playing out in our areas. Cabinet takes this input seriously and has seen us move to appropriate alert levels and to extend what is allowed under Delta alert level 2 (i.e more people allowed in a public space etc).”

“The same goes for talking with my constituents, many of whom are business owners and some of whom would likely be hard hit by a further loss of visitors from the North Island. Likewise, I know of many constituents who need to travel to COVID-free parts of the North Island for personal reasons or they need family members and friends from COVID- free parts of the North Island to travel to them to assist with childcare and the like.”

“These places have no COVID either and many would be unduly disadvantaged by a strict border with the North Island. I believe the better approach is to put the border around the areas that do have COVID-19 and stop travel from those areas. It is also vital that we keep supply chains between the North and South Islands open. People and businesses need goods to be able to travel across the Cook Straight and a closed South Island would impede that flow.”

“This would mean shortages and could place local businesses under further pressure and possibly cost jobs.  Furthermore, while there have been no cases in the South Island, thousands of close contacts linked to the current outbreak have extended to both islands. The South Island has remained COVID-free because the appropriate measures have been in place.  Our best defence in the South Island, keeping us COVID-free , and allowing us to get back to a more normal way of life, is achieving high rates of vaccination. This requires us as a community to all play our part and encourage all our family, friends and colleagues to play their part.” Cantabrians have done a great job of keeping COVID-19 out but as long as there is a Delta outbreak in Auckland it’s a risk to us all, especially those who are yet to be vaccinated. “

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey

“Feedback I have received ranges from those who want a hermetically sealed border to prevent Covid, to others who are desperate to get to level one to allow more travel. The government needs to tell us their plan for the South Island –  at the very least I’d like to see rapid antigen and saliva testing for everyone entering the South Island to ensure they are Covid free.  I wrote to the Prime Minister over two weeks ago and still have not received a response. South Islanders need to know what the expert advice is on how to keep us Covid free. The strategy for the South Island should be based on this expert advice. I’m talking to government officials on a weekly basis at the moment in areas of health, immigration and MSD, to name a few. One area of advocating has been around the vaccine strategy for Canterbury.”