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4 Feb 2026 7:20
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      Home > News > Politics

    The Covid Response Minister's defending keeping Auckland roped off

    The Covid Response Minister's defending keeping Auckland roped off


    It's been revealed the Health Ministry advised Cabinet to open the border last Friday when the country moved into the traffic light system.

    The advice was in the Director-General of Health's affidavit to the Waitangi Tribunal, for a hearing on the new Covid-19 framework.

    Cabinet isn't relaxing the border until next Wednesday.

    Minister Chris Hipkins says they want to give the rest of New Zealand chance to hit 90 percent vaccinations first.

    He says when cases begin to spread out of Auckland, it will ensure we're in the best shape possible to stop a spike.

    © 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

     Other Politics News
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     03 Feb: 2026 has already seen a jump in sextortion scams - costing Kiwis thousands
     02 Feb: A warning from the Climate Commission around the target to be net zero by 2050
     02 Feb: The Education Minister says new nationwide school reporting will give teachers and parents clearer data on how students are performing
     02 Feb: The Government's keeping a closer eye on kids' achievement across primary and intermediate school
     02 Feb: There'll be a wait until we learn the outcome of today's court case between expelled Te Pati Maori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and her former party
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