Todd Talks with Todd Muller National MP

Another year, another Covid variant, and another disappointing performance from Government.

Despite having seen much of the world experience the effects of the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant, here we are again living with Government's lack of forward planning.

Being slow off the mark getting vaccines to New Zealand, we are only now getting boosters distributed.

Many people under 50 were not eligible for their second jabs until October, which means that much of our workforce had to wait until March before being eligible for their third shots.

Omicron is running rampant in our community with many only double vaccinated. It's good to learn this week that adults can book in for their booster 3 months later, instead of 4.

The Government has also finally announced that New Zealand citizens can return home from Australia later this month, for those who can get flights.

The farce that is MIQ is being wound back with hotel isolations only required for unvaccinated returnees; others can be trusted to isolate at home.

National has been pushing for the end of the MIQ lottery system so it's good to see Government finally taking this step to help families reunite.

But we still don't have enough Rapid Antigen Tests so Government will decide which of us are considered critical workers worthy of such tests.

We are being treated by Government as if we were children. But that's what we've come to expect in the nanny state this country has become since 2017.

I really do fear for business owners in the Bay of Plenty and throughout New Zealand. The Government's ineptitude with Covid management has caused stresses with employees having to isolate and customers scared to visit, travel, shop or dine.

Tourists will not be visiting from overseas until mid-year so please do what you can to support our local businesses safely over the coming months