Angie Warren-Clark Labour MP

The government's efforts to secure the recovery has seen more Kiwis in jobs and higher wages, with unemployment falling to pre-Covid levels and more people in work.

Since mid-July, the maximum duration of Essential Skills visas, for jobs paid below the median wage, increased from 12 months to 24 months. The maximum duration of Essential Skills visas for jobs paid above the median wage is already three years.

A key issue the Bay of Plenty business community have raised with me is the tight labour market settings for skilled migrants, so this reset is positive news for the economic recovery of our region.

Recently, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced that following strong uptake from the 60-plus and 55-plus age groups, Covid-19 vaccine bookings for New Zealanders aged 50 and over are being brought forward to today (Friday, August 13).

This is a reminder that if you are 50 or over you are eligible, and I'll be getting mine as soon as I can get an appointment.

With new variants such as Delta and Lambda, we need to limit our risks and get immunised. Our community deserves to be safe from Covid, and immunisation is our best option.

People in the 50-plus group who are eligible no longer need to wait. They can make their own booking by visiting: www.bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz, or by calling: 0800 28 29 26 (8am-8pm, seven days a week).

People in other groups who are eligible and who are not vaccinated yet can also continue to book – there's no cut-off.