CultComparison

In this audio, I compare again the NZ govt and the cult I grew up in and escaped a few years ago. The similarities are incredible.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/127399025/covid19-popular-markets-stall-holders-start-new-event-ignoring-safety-rules Here's the copy of the article: Covid-19: Popular market's stall holders start new event 'ignoring' safety rules. A popular market in a holiday hot spot has been severely affected by divisions amongst its stallholders. Motueka Market normally hosts more than 100 stalls at its weekly Sunday event but more than half of its stallholders have left in favour of a market in Richmond set up under more relaxed Covid-19 regulations which a Motueka councillor says could be “careless”. The popular Motueka Sunday Market has a 24-year history of drawing the crowds and stallholders from all over the Nelson region, but sticking to Covid regulations has seen traders take exception and form their own weekly event. Motueka Sunday Market manager Judy Roper said she was “devastated”. “I’ve simply tried to do the right thing by the community.” She said her market was operating within the Covid-19 framework, requiring public-facing stallholders to wear masks, regardless of face covering exemptions, display QR Codes and a hold vaccine pass. “What needs to be understood is that the Freedom Market in Richmond is not doing the same. They are making a virtue of ignoring any safety measures.” Roper said asking stallholders for vaccination passes was the catalyst for the mass exodus along with asking them to wear masks for the community’s protection. Operators holding a mask exemption could only work “behind the scenes, definitely not face the public”, she said. The region’s other well-established Saturday market, Nelson Market, has also been following Covid-19 guidelines. It does not require stallholders to be vaccinated, but face masks are mandatory and stallholders are required to offer accessible sanitiser. Nelson Market manager Nita Knight said she was running a business while keeping the community “as safe as possible”. Motueka-ward councillor David Ogilivie said he visited the Motueka Sunday Market weekly and the loss of stalls was visible. “If Nelson and Motueka are following the rules, shouldn’t Richmond be following the same sort of rules? It seems different rules are being applied for each of the three markets, [and] Richmond is benefiting because they’re being very liberal, or careless.” But he didn’t think there was any risk to the future of Motueka Sunday Market. Nelson Market manager Nita Knight said she was running a business while keeping the community “as safe as possible”. Motueka-ward councillor David Ogilivie said he visited the Motueka Sunday Market weekly and the loss of stalls was visible. “If Nelson and Motueka are following the rules, shouldn’t Richmond be following the same sort of rules? It seems different rules are being applied for each of the three markets, [and] Richmond is benefiting because they’re being very liberal, or careless.” But he didn’t think there was any risk to the future of Motueka Sunday Market. “The key thing is the space. Both Nelson and Motueka are dealing with a confined space.” Stall numbers have gradually grown, reaching more than 100 stalls on Boxing Day, this included health and well-being stalls, a hairdresser, florist, food, crafts and produce, many trading without face masks. Cameron said most vendors held legitimate face mask exemptions, and a lot of people there were “pro-choice”. “We’re a real mixture of those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.” Market-goers were free to choose whether they wore a mask, she said. If people were not wearing masks, it signalled they had an exemption, she said. Complaints had been laid against the market being non-compliant, she said, but Worksafe had visited the site and been in touch with no further restrictions implemented, she said. Nelson’s status is currently orange in the Government’s traffic light system. Under orange regulations, events can go ahead, provided a My Vaccine Pass is used for entry and face coverings are worn. Examples of events include community fairs. Meanwhile, close proximity businesses, including hairdressers and massage therapists are required to hold a My Vaccine Pass and wear a face mask. The organisations responsible for insuring regulations are followed include Worksafe and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Tasman District Council communications manager Chris Choat said councils had no ability to enforce the rules. The landowners were responsible for how leaseholders used the land, he said. “It’s not our facility, we have no powers.” The land is leased from Nelson A & P Showgrounds and its office and show manager Annette Robinson said it did not get involved in how the market ran its event. “It is completely up to them.” A police spokesperson said the police did not enforce Covid-19 rules. Stuff approached MBIE and Worksafe for confirmation about market regulations but they did not respond. The Ministry of Health and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet referred Stuff to MBIE and Worksafe for responses.

Let me know what you think

Here's the link to the article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300483347/covid19-nz-government-brings-forward-boosters-postpones-end-to-miq-because-of-omicron Here's the copy of the article: Covid-19 NZ: Government brings forward boosters, postpones end to MIQ because of Omicron. The Government will bring forward booster doses to fight the threat of the highly-infectious Omicron variant of Covid-19. It has been restricting booster shots to those who got their vaccine six months or more ago but will shift that to four months from the start of 2022. This will mean about 82 per cent of those already double vaccinated will be eligible for a booster shot before the Government looks to reopen the borders at the end of February. Hipkins said the emerging evidence was that the booster provided far stronger protection from Omicron than the two-shot course. “While two doses is likely to hold a good degree of protection against severe disease from Omicron, a third dose is likely to offer great protection against transmission of Covid-19 and reducing the chance of more serious infections,” Hipkins said. “The advice from the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group is that shortening the period between the second and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine is an appropriate and pragmatic step and is in line with what other countries are doing.” “The shorter timeframe will start in January and we’ll continue to follow health advice if it recommends the gap in doses can and should reduce further.” Ministry of Health chief science advisor Dr Ian Town said it was imperative to keep Omicron out as long as possible as the booster appeared to be very effective at stopping hospitalisation. University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker said the changes were necessary and proportionate. “All of the settings are very good for minimising the impact - whatever happens. As usual the longer you can delay it entering the country the better,” Baker said. “That was very comprehensive and coherent set of announcements.” Border reopening pushed back, jabs for kids The Government was planning to allow fully vaccinated Kiwis and residents to travel into the country from Australia without going through managed isolation facilities from mid-January. That has been pushed back until the end of February to give the country more time to get their booster shot – with about 82 per cent of over-12s eligible for a booster at that point. The Government has also announced that vaccinations for 5 – 11-year-olds will begin from January 17. The suite of measures is designed to combat the newly-dominant Omicron variant, which is not yet been found in the community in New Zealand. “All evidence points to Omicron being the most transmissible variant yet,” Hipkins said. “But experts still don’t know how severe it is. So while it’s sweeping the globe at a bewildering speed and appears to be the dominant variant, how sick it makes people and the impact it has on health systems is not yet fully understood.” Those coming in through MIQ will also see other changes. MIQ has been extended to 10 days from the current seven. Also, pre-departure tests will now only be accepted if they were taken within the last 48 hours, instead of the last 72. The news comes as New Zealand’s community cases continue to fall. There were just 28 new community cases on Tuesday, and no new Omicron cases in managed isolation. New Zealand’s overall vaccination rate is high compared to many peer nations but only about one in 20 over-12s has had a booster shot. Around 360,000 people are now eligible for their booster, but just 228,000 have taken up the opportunity. National Party Covid-19 spokesman Chris Bishop said the Government had made the right call on boosters and said the delay in reopening was "necessary”. The party had previously been pushing for MIQ to be abolished for vaccinated Kiwis before Christmas. “The pushback of the partial opening of the border to Kiwis in Australia to the end of February is disappointing and will cause frustration for many people,” Bishop said. “We acknowledge that in the difficult circumstances presented by Omicron, a short delay in ending MIQ to allow as many people to be boosted as possible is necessary, but we should not underestimate the suffering this will cause for many Kiwis offshore.”

In this Cult Comparison video, I will discuss a little about the similarities between the cult I grew up in and the NZ govt when it comes to thought-stopping buzzwords . If you want to know more about how to see if organisations re cult-like in nature, go to https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ for more information. This website is not mine, but it helped me to escape from the cult I grew up in.

In this Cult Comparison video, I will discuss a little about the similarities between the cult I grew up in and the NZ govt when it comes to appeals to authority and using authority figures to assume you have the monopoly on truth. . If you want to know more about how to see if organisations re cult-like in nature, go to https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ for more information. This website is not mine, but it helped me to escape from the cult I grew up in.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/doctors-ready-for-speedy-booster-roll-out-ahead-of-cabinet-decision/ar-AARYgRu?ocid=msedgntp Here's the copy of the article: Doctors ready for speedy booster roll-out ahead of Cabinet decision. Thousands more people could be eligible for their third booster vaccine dose this summer, and doctors on the frontline say they are ready for a speedier rollout. Cabinet will today consider whether to shorten the wait time between the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and the booster. Some health experts want the six-month gap reduced with studies suggesting three doses are more effective at stopping the spread of the new Omicron strain - 13 cases of which have already been found at the border. South Auckland GP Dr Api Talemaitoga hoped boosters would be fast-tracked and many more would be eligible for their third booster shot over summer. He said health workers are ready to man their clinics in holiday hotspots. "We know where we normally go, if it's Queenstown for 2000 people from Auckland or the Coromandel then let's man those vaccination centres up so that people are available to deliver the vaccinations where the most people will be." Just days away from Christmas, he said clinics needed time to prepare if the six-month stand down between second and third doses was shortened. "DHBs, ministry and government just need to get the settings right so that we health workers can plan our lives around delivering this job." General Practice New Zealand chair Dr Jeff Lowe, said doctors and pharmacies are ready to roll out many more booster shots. He said there were enough vaccinators, appointments and doses to get started straight away. "We have the vaccine supply to be able to deliver it and if we need to do it early we have the capacity to do that across general practices, pharmacies and vaccination centres. So if they do decide to move it forward, yes I think we can get ahead of the curve and start getting people boosted as soon as we can." Eight million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have now been administered in New Zealand, and so far almost 213,000 people have had their booster since the third dose was rolled out at the end of last month. National Party Covid-19 spokesperson Chris Bishop expected Cabinet to decide to bring forward the gap - by how much will be based on the health advice. "Many people out there are keen to get their third dose. We do have now quite a sophisticated operation around the country for the delivery of the vaccine, it took a while to get it going, but we now have a good system." But what if the third dose becomes the focus, while take-up of the vaccine among more vulnerable Māori populations lags with just 87 percent first doses, and 77 percent fully vaccinated? Only five of the 20 district health boards have reached the 90 percent first dose milestone for Māori. Talemaitoga, who chairs the Pasifika GP Network, said the message needed to get out for people to get all three doses. "My view is that we sell it as a package, you know there's immunisations going whether you're coming in for your first second or third the vaccination centres are available." One thing's clear, evidence shows it's now a three-dose vaccine against Omicron and Chris Bishop agrees the message to the public will need to change. "Most people have got it ingrained in them now that you've got to go out get vaccinated get your two doses. Actually the messaging probably needs to shift a bit which is yep definitely go and get your two doses but when you become eligible, whenever that is, please go and get your third dose as well."

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/health-ministry-announces-75m-to-plug-cybersecurity-gaps/ar-AARYRyX?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 Here's the copy of the article: Health Ministry announces $75m to plug cybersecurity gaps. Undersea volcano sends plume of steam into the skies near Tonga Isle of Man testing and isolation rules overhauled The Ministry of Health is spending $75.6 million to protect the health system from computer hackers. It said cyberattacks were increasing around the world and health was one of the most targeted sectors. Over the next three years, the budget funding will help hospitals and primary and community health organisations improve their cybersecurity by protecting sensitive information and minimising the risk of disruption from cyberattacks. Waikato DHBs computer systems were shut down in May following a ransomeware attack. Patient and staff information was stolen, surgeries had to be postponed, and some procedures were transferred to other regions. All clinical services have now been restored at the DHB, but some computer systems were still not able to be used, the ministry said. "Work is underway to review any cases where a patient's treatment had to be deferred." Digital and data deputy director-general Shayne Hunter said planned improvements at national and regional level were crucial. "Our health and disability system is critical national infrastructure that will only become more dependent over time on digital technology and information sharing across health networks," Hunter said. "While it's not possible to fully eliminate cyber risks altogether, it's essential we improve the resilience of our health and disability system so we can minimise the risk of disruptions to healthcare services in the event of a cyberattack and better protect sensitive health information." All 20 district health boards (DHBs) were already making progress on cybersecurity, Hunter said, but it was clear more needed to be done. A 'cybersecurity roadmap' has been drawn up by the ministry and DHBs identifying areas of risk, and priorities for improvement. It details essential cybersecurity capability expected for hospitals, primary care providers and community services, and will lead to national security standards and guidelines. "The most serious cyber risks will be addressed first before further system wide cybersecurity improvements are implemented," Hunter said. The roadmap plan includes improving identification and access systems, increasing security staff across the regions, upgrading systems and software, strengthening assurance and testing, and more use of cloud security. "This will reduce the likelihood of another successful cyberattack, while laying solid foundations for further cybersecurity improvements and the secure implementation of new digital health technologies," Hunter said.

In this first Cult Comparison video, I will discuss a little about the similarities between propaganda outlets of the cult I grew up in compared to those of the NZ govt. If you want to know more about how to see if organisations re cult-like in nature, go to https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ for more information. This website is not mine, but it helped me to escape from the cult I grew up in.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/expert-warns-omicron-outbreak-could-force-us-out-of-traffic-light-system-and-into-alert-levels-again/ar-AARYyDr?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 Here's the copy of the article: Expert warns Omicron outbreak could force us out of traffic light system and into alert levels again. Cars, caravans and thousands of cooped-up Aucklanders have been setting off for a Christmas break. It's the summer down-under we hoped for - but in the Northern Hemisphere, the situation is worse than ever. Even those charged with caring for COVID patients are getting sick. Cases in the UK are doubling every few days and a winter nightmare looms as officials consider a Christmas lockdown. Across Europe, countries are swinging into action as Omicron spreads. France and Germany are tightening their borders and the streets of Amsterdam are virtually empty as it begins a four-week lockdown. New South Wales recorded 2500 new cases on Monday. Despite much lower numbers in hospital, one immunologist says the state isn't ready to cope. "Sydney is sleepwalking into a catastrophic disaster in January," he says. Back home in New Zealand, there were 69 new community cases on Monday plus nine new Omicron cases in MIQ. Cabinet has spent the day deciding on a change to booster shots in preparation for the new variant. Currently, they're administered six months after the second jab, however one expert suggests moving it to five months. "The thing about going too early is the vaccine booster effect doesn't work as well as when it's at five months or six months and one has to weigh that up," immunology professor and Malaghan Institute director Graham Le Gros says. "It's better to have more people immunised and we have that when it's five to six months." Some believe bigger changes to our COVID response are coming. Auckland University COVID modeller Dr Dion O'Neale says the traffic light system wasn't created with Omicron in mind. "We wouldn't expect orange or even red to limit the spread of Omicron," he says. "To be honest it's probably going to be going back to something like the alert level interventions." News no one wants to hear as we wind down on a year of upheaval.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/one-dead-in-crash-between-car-and-truck/ar-AARY31j?ocid=msedgntp Here's the copy of the article: One dead in crash between car and truck. A person has died in a crash that's blocking State Highway 1 in Horowhenua. Emergency services were called to the crash, between a car and a truck, just after 6am at Manakau. Police said the car driver died at the scene and the truck driver suffered moderate injuries. At 10am the road remained closed and police were warning motorists to expect delays. SH1, south of Levin, is being upgraded because of safety concerns. In November, four people died in a crash on the stretch of road between a truck and a van.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/australia/omicron-variant-confirmed-in-new-zealand/ar-AARRH9V?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 If the article doesn't work, find below the copy of the article: Omicron variant confirmed in New Zealand. A German resident undertaking quarantine in Christchurch is New Zealand's first confirmed case of COVID-19's Omicron variant. Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield confirmed the case on Thursday afternoon, preaching calmness to Kiwis worried about its arrival. "We fully expected we would find a case of Omicron," he said. "We have good protocols in place that are designed to stop the virus getting across the border that have served us incredibly well." The German was fully vaccinated, and returned the positive test on day one of his quarantine on arrival in NZ. Omicron's growth overseas is prompting the country to consider cutting the time fully vaccinated Kiwis must wait for a booster shot. However, NZ is likely to remove all countries from the "very high risk" designation from African nations as, Dr Bloomfield said "Omicron is everywhere, really". The discovery comes as health authorities cleared the vaccine for children. NZ regulator Medsafe gave provisional approval for Pfizer doses to be given to five- to 11-year-olds, which is likely to begin next month should it get cabinet approval. The last cabinet meeting of the year is on Monday, and it would be a shock if the vaccine was not approved. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has frequently said she is keen to include children in NZ's growing vaccination program when it is safe to do so. Australia made a similar approval on December 5, following a call from the US in October. Medsafe manager Chris James defended the Kiwi regulator against claims of tardiness. "Medsafe will only approve a vaccine or medicine for use in New Zealand once it is satisfied that it has met high standards for quality, safety and efficacy," he said. "The Medsafe team has worked tirelessly this year to ensure that COVID-19 vaccine applications are prioritised and urgently reviewed." If the pediatric rollout begins next month, children will have protection before they return to school. "I'm thrilled to hear that the pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has passed its first regulatory checkpoint," University of Auckland associate professor Siouxsie Wiles said. "With Delta in the community and Omicron knocking on our doors, having a safe and effective vaccine for five to 11-year-olds is crucial for preventing long term health problems and saving lives and livelihoods." Also on Thursday, health officials announced that 90 per cent of Kiwis aged 12 or over are fully vaccinated. COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said Kiwis should "pat themselves on the back". There were 91 new community cases reported on Thursday, including 55 in Auckland, and others in Taranaki (16), Bay of Plenty (10) and the Waikato (7). Wastewater fragments in Gisborne continue to show traces of COVID-19, though testing has not produced any positive cases. Hospitalisations continue to drop, with 58 recorded on Thursday including four in intensive care.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/126988278/the-vaccine-sideeffect-thats-destroying-families?fbclid=IwAR3iEffNXkRzK49I535iBtnyvpCKs6dYBdRaICTxyTL4f_MmjUSVhhKFKm4 Here's the link to the BITE Model: https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ Here's the copy of the article if you can't use the link: The vaccine side-effect that's destroying families. OPINION: How do you prove to someone you love they should get vaccinated? You don’t, because it won’t work. What you need to do is bribe, blackmail, trick or shame them into it. You need to use every dirty emotional method under the sun and, when they finally succumb, they’ll hate you for it. But at least they’ll be alive to do it. Covid-19 has been ripping families apart in so many ways, and not one of us is immune. If we’re not separated by a broken MIQ system, the Auckland border or the nature of our jobs, we’re being torn asunder by the vaccine. Some conspiracists describe it as a poison, and it’s certainly poisoning our relationships. It seems not a day goes past without another conspiracy about the vaccine’s side-effects. A woman told me it contained the tissue of aborted foetuses (it doesn’t); a man told me it was experimental (it’s not); and someone on Facebook with a teaspoon stuck on her chest swore it made her magnetic (it didn’t). But nobody can deny the vaccine’s most perfidious side-effect is this: it may destroy your family. Symptoms include rage, remorse and good old silent treatment. Recovery is in no way assured. I hate the vaccine for this. I hate the side-effect it doesn’t mention in the small print, and I hate that, in all its life-saving smugness, it’s divided us in a way no other pandemic problem has. I hate it for uniting disparate groups of frightened people and allowing them to spew hatred. I hate it for sowing conspiracies and distrust in good people; hate it for destroying a generation of families. (I hate how it’s torn us apart, darling.) Professor Paul Spoonley has long studied the far right and conspiratorial politics, two things that are contributing to vaccine hesitation here. He says that, while it’s tempting to quote facts and science at anyone opposed to getting vaccinated, that’s ultimately a waste of breath. What you should do is appeal to their emotions and personal connections. “Ask how they’ll feel if they brought the virus home because they were unvaccinated and made everyone else sick.” But what if they don’t believe it’ll protect them? Or don’t even believe in the virus? My colleague recently wrote about dealing with vaccine-hesitant family members and was amazed at how many people were keen to share their experiences. Every family’s got one, it seems, and other than locking them in the back room to keep them safe, there’s bugger-all other options open to us. Which is why it’s time to play dirty. Issue ultimatums, promise rewards or, if nagging fails, try begging. Resort to threats if you have to – “I’ll kill you if you die of Covid” – or suggest a bit of quid pro quo if they’ve been urging you to do something for ages. Sulk, rage, cry: the methods might not be honourable, but right now there’s too much at stake not to give it your damnedest. So do what you have to, but be prepared to pay. Because even if you win, the price of victory can be heartbreakingly high. You likely won’t lose them to Covid, but you might lose them all the same. Because for all the families currently separated by borders and desperate to reunite, there are other families sharing a suburb and not talking at all. And while many New Zealanders worry about whether they’ll get to travel to loved ones this Christmas, others know our distances will still be too great to cross by then. Or ever.

There will be a section of the audio where I try to find some information. I took too long and it's probably boring for you to wait :) If you want to skip ahead, go to 7:00. Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/the-problem-with-the-individual-rights-argument/ar-AAQOP24 Here's the copy of the article: The problem with the 'individual rights' argument. Editor’s note: The opinions in this article are the author’s, as published by our content partner, and do not represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. Hayden Thorne explores how the American right corrupted the individual freedom dialogue for its own purposes - and the danger of adopting that approach in New Zealand In recent days, as vaccine mandates for healthcare workers and teachers have come into effect, there’s been plenty of talk about the so-called “rights” of the individual to refuse the vaccine and keep their job. (If you want to skip ahead of my long silences, go to 7:00, haha) Leaving to one side the public health discussion, the nature of the dialogue occurring is a major concern. The emergence of a strong individual rights dialogue in New Zealand appears to be relatively new, and derived from American conceptions of individualism and individual freedoms. But the way it is used in New Zealand has two problems: it corrupts the historical importance of American constitutional freedoms, and shows a serious misunderstanding of our culture and constitutional structure. There is much we can learn from history to inform the current health crisis. Historians have made some important contributions about the history of vaccination and disease. Many of those protesting against vaccine mandates could also do with a history lesson. Invoking the holocaust, segregation, or apartheid to protest a public health measure is not only baseless, but also disrespectful and demeaning to the millions who suffered through those events. The belief in a rigid set of rights that cannot be taken away, even when they harm or infringe on the rights of others, corrupts the way individual freedom can be (and has been) a tool for positive change. In the spirit of learning from history, here is a lesson on how the American right corrupted the individual freedom dialogue for its own purposes, and the danger of adopting that approach in New Zealand. Let’s start with the 1950s and 1960s. In the United States, individual rights and freedoms provided civil rights and civil liberties activists with a framework to challenge oppressive racial and social justice policies. Famous examples such as Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, Gideon v. Wainwright in 1963 and Miranda v. Arizona in 1966 are cases where an individual right was used to push for a collective societal benefit: desegregating schools, providing lawyers to indigent defendants, and preventing oppressive police interrogations. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People successfully adopted an individual rights framework because they had to - the American Constitution with its supreme Bill of Rights provided the most effective mechanism to uphold the rights of coloured and marginalised Americans. We should never lose sight of the fact these actions were undertaken for the collective good. Importing the individualistic, American conception of rights shows a lack of understanding of how New Zealand’s constitution works. In the 1970s, this individual rights dialogue was corrupted by the American right - in particular, the religious right - to protect what it saw as important, at the expense of other groups in society. Debates about abortion and gun control became infected with an emphasis on individual rights. It is this post-1960s American conception of individual freedom that now seems to be dominating the anti-mandate and anti-vaccine protests. The belief in a rigid set of rights that cannot be taken away, even when they harm or infringe on the rights of others, corrupts the way individual freedom can be (and has been) a tool for positive change. As for constitutional structures, importing the individualistic, American conception of rights shows a lack of understanding of how New Zealand’s constitution works. America has a written Bill of Rights, enshrined in its constitution. The rights it contains are (mostly) absolutes. The US Supreme Court can, and does, invalidate legislation where it conflicts with the Bill of Rights. This system creates an incentive to frame debates in individualistic terms because the rights contained are individual in nature. New Zealand society, reflected in our own constitutional structure, involves a much stronger view of the collective - the rights of society as a whole and the conditions that come with being a part of society. New Zealand has a very different system. Our Bill of Rights is like any other piece of legislation. It has an important guiding and informing purpose but little more. It is neither supreme, nor entrenched. As Professor Claudia Geiringer, chair in public law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, notes “Parliament has retained its sovereign right to legislate in conscious disregard of the Bill of Rights”. Set against this framework, the individual rights dialogue perpetuated by anti-mandate protests is completely unhelpful. Our constitutional framework does not recognise individual rights in the same way that the American system does, and our Bill of Rights recognises that reasonable limits on individual rights are fundamental for the protection of society as a whole – a view upheld by the High Court just last month. Let us leave behind this American-centric, rights-driven debate. It misrepresents why individual rights and freedoms are historically important and misunderstands New Zealand’s constitutional structure. New Zealand society, reflected in our own constitutional structure, involves a much stronger view of the collective - the rights of society as a whole and the conditions that come with being a part of society. Replacing this with a focus on individualism is selfish, does great harm to the community, and shows a lack of respect for others. Instead of focusing on the rights of the individual, the focus should be on the collective, and the things that need to be done for the good of the community.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/anti-vaxxer-dies-from-covid-19-after-intentionally-catching-the-virus/ar-AAR3kwg?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 Here's the copy of the article: Anti-vaxxer dies from COVID-19 after intentionally catching the virus. A man has died and others are in intensive care after attending a "coronavirus party" in Italy in an attempt to catch the virus. Health chief officials believe the patients are anti-vaxxers who deliberately attempted to become infected so they could obtain a "green pass", which is now required for work, leisure and to use public transport in Italy. The only way to get a pass in the country is either through vaccination or by recovering from infection within the previous six months. A 55-year-old man died last week in Austria after becoming infected with COVID-19 during a similar party in the city of Bolzano in northern Italy. At least three other people - including a child - are said to have been hospitalised after catching the virus at similar events. "We have received more than one account from doctors of patients who admitted to having been infected on purpose," Dr Patrick Franzoni, co-ordinator of the anti-Covid unit in Bolzano, told Italian newspaper Il Dolomiti. "[They do this] to develop antibodies, and to obtain the green pass without vaccination. "There are long-term consequences and even young people can end up in hospital." Dr Franzoni said the anti-vaxxers would meet in outdoor areas of bars where they would hug, kiss and share drinks with someone who is infected. The Prosecutor's Office in Bolzano has now reportedly opened an investigation into the so-called "corona-parties" according to the Independent. Italy has been one of the worst hit by the virus with over 133,000 COVID-releated deaths. Under emergency laws in Italy, which are in place until at least December 31, it's a crime to spread the virus on purpose.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/vaccines-mandatory-for-businesses-using-passes-as-govt-announces-risk-assessment-tool/ar-AAR0ArQ?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 Here's the copy of the article: Businesses failing to enforce pass requirements to face big fines - Michael Wood. The government is releasing a new tool to help businesses assess whether they should be requiring workers to be vaccinated. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood said the assessment tool will be available from mid-December. Meanwhile, workers covered by the My Vaccine Pass mandate will need to have their first dose by 3 December and be fully vaccinated by 17 January. Wood said when the traffic light system comes into place from 3 December, it will be a requirement for vaccine passes to be shown for those businesses that opt into it. "And it'll be a requirement for all workers in those workplaces to comply and to be vaccinated by that date - have their first dose by that date." This applies to hospitality, events, gatherings, close contact businesses and gyms. On-site tertiary education is also included at the red level. "This will be a very simple tool to use," Wood said. He said the tool provides a clear legal framework to help businesses and other employers to decide about vaccinations in the workplace. It builds on guidance and advice from workSafe, public health agencies, Business New Zealand and the Council of Trade Unions. It has four criteria, at least three of which must be met before a business can require vaccination: Workers are in an area with less than 100m2 indoor space Workers work less than 1m apart from other people Workers are routinely near others for more than 15 minutes That the workers provide services to people vulnerable to Covid-19 Businesses that opt in or are required to use the passes, but which fail to enforce them, are set to face penalties which are being increased from $300 to $12,000 for a company, or $15,000 for a court-imposed fine for a company. These fines also apply in other areas where vaccines are mandated, including for teachers, frontline health workers and border workers. Wood said the new process will not override risk assessments already done under existing guidelines, and all health and safety risk assessments will remain valid. Legislation allowing the tool to be created and setting up a four-week minimum paid period of termination, as well as time off to get vaccinated, will be passed this week, he said. "We've tested this with stakeholders and it's received broad support, including from religious communities." Wood said the legislation would legally protect businesses that use the tool, saying it will provide a "very high degree of legal certainty". He said the fine details of the legalities of the tool are still being refined, but the tool itself is as laid out this morning. "We're talking about a couple of weeks at this point." He said businesses would still have to apply the tool in a way that was fair and reasonable, including communicating clearly and openly with affected employees, receiving their feedback, and making decisions in a reasonable way. "Cabinet's made the very clear decision that we would not take away the legal rights of employees to test those rights in the court if they think they have been treated unfairly." Wood said the vaccination requirement had been estimated to apply to 40 percent of the workforce. He said jurisdictions overseas have applied much higher levels of requirement, such as Austria with an all-of-population mandate and Northern Territory with its requirement for all workers. "Our experience to date has been that the majority of people are open to being vaccinated and will do that, and that this just can be a little bit of a final push." He said with 91 percent of eligible New Zealanders having already had their first dose, the vast majority of New Zealanders are already on board and have been vaccinated, and will not be affected. He said industries seeking for the government to mandate vaccinations could use the tool, but other announcements may be made in the coming days. "Across the spectrum here we are trying to strike the right balance. We do believe that workplace mandates that are put in place by the government do have a place, but they are a very strong tool and we have to assure ourselves that they are justified on health and safety and public interest grounds." "We will have further announcements on where we've gotten to on decisions on mandates." Asked about the urgency of the legislation, Wood said there is a need to move forward to ensure all the systems are set up by the time New Zealand moves to the new framework on 3 December, and with Parliament not sitting next week, that means the legislative work needs to be done this week. He denied that the government was scrambling to get it set up. "The tool will lead to relatively clear conclusions through quite a simple process." "We haven't lived in an ideal world over the last two years under Covid-19 ... and we do sometimes as a government need to get on and put the structures and systems in place that keep people safe and give certainty. Within that we will always try to have as much engagement as we possibly can but also need to move forward." He said he did have sympathy for those people who would be confronted by the mandatory nature of the decisions. "The consequences of our decisions in this area affect other people and that's why we believe it is justified and appropriate that we have these requirements in place. Ultimately if a worker in one of these places where transmission is more likely makes themselves more likely to get Covid-19 by not getting vaccinated they're more likely to infect their coworkers, they're more likely to infect their customers including children and people who cannot be vaccinated." He would not want to put a specific date on how long the regime would last, saying he knew that was what people wanted to know but the reality of the global pandemic was that Covid would be with us for some time. "Every politician who has ever stood at a podium and said 'this is how it'll be in three months' time or six months' time or a year's time, has proven to be wrong." At this point, the framework was part of the underlying Covid-19 legislative framework, and would continue for as long as that framework was in place, he said. "Currently under the law it expires in May of next year, and the government is looking to extend that, but it will not be indefinite." Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday, when announcing the traffic light system will begin from 11.59pm on 2 December, said the government would provide extra guidance for businesses to prepare, and release an assessment toolkit for firms wanting to require staff to be vaccinated. Today, the app for businesses that require proof of the vaccine pass for entry will be launched. Ardern also announced after Cabinet yesterday hairdressers and barbers in Auckland would be able to reopen when using the passes, in part to trial the system, from Thursday. Hospitality businesses have also been hoping for some clarification over enforcing the vaccine pass for entry requirement, and on whether all staff would need to be vaccinated. The government last week said police had been involved in the planning for this and would be available if customers became unruly. For retail, the vaccine passes are essentially opt-in - with no difference between those using them and those not - and restrictions including 1m distancing under Orange and Red.

Here's the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/number-of-fully-vaccinated-hospitalised-patients-revealed-what-you-may-have-missed-in-today-s-covid-19-update/ar-AAQX3mO?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 And here's the copy if you can't open the link: Number of fully vaccinated hospitalised patients revealed: What you may have missed in today's COVID-19 update. There were 149 new COVID-19 cases reported on Sunday - the lowest number of daily cases in almost two weeks. Aside from the case numbers, here's what you may have missed from Sunday's COVID-19 update from the Ministry of Health. ... Hospitalisations There are 83 COVID-positive people in hospital. Of these, 36 are in Auckland City, 23 in Middlemore, 20 in North Shore, and one each in Whangārei, Waikato, Rotorua, and Tauranga. Five people are in an intensive care or high dependency unit. The average age of hospitalisations is 49. The vaccination status of current hospitalisations - which includes Northern Region wards only - as of November 20 is: Unvaccinated or not eligible - 38 cases or 50 percent Partially vaccinated for fewer than 14 days - nine cases or 12 percent Partially vaccinated for more than 14 days - seven cases or 9 percent Fully vaccinated for fewer than 14 days - one case or 1 percent Fully vaccinated for more than 14 days - 16 cases or 21 percent Unknown - four cases or 5 percent.

Here's the link to follow along with my audio: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/really-taxing-schools-seeing-impact-of-missing-staff-who-are-unvaccinated/ar-AAQL1LB?ocid=msedgntp . If you can't find the article, here's a copy: Really taxing': Schools seeing impact of missing staff who are unvaccinated. Kaiapoi High School in Canterbury celebrated its prize-giving for leavers on Tuesday but some of their teachers weren't there to cheer them on. "They probably just assume the teacher's not there for today [Tuesday]," says the school's principal Bruce Kearney. "It'll be over a period of time before they start realising." From Tuesday, unvaccinated staff are banned from setting foot on school grounds, nationwide. Not just teachers - teacher aides, volunteers, support staff and even cleaners. "We're dealing with people, and emotions, and we're normally, you know, we normally focus on the fact we try and encourage and empower people so it's been really hard for us," Kearney says. Kearney says a very small number of his staff had chosen not to get the vaccine. "The hardest part of it at the moment is we haven't been able to say goodbye if that ends up being the case," he says. The New Zealand Principals' Federation says principals are just trying to do the right thing. "We're very small communities, and communities that place a high premium on human values," says president Perry Rush. "So the job that principals have had to work with teachers that are not compliant has been really taxing." He says rural schools in particular will be hardest hit. "We are seeing a much more challenge with rural and remote communities, simply because there is no reliever pool," Rush says. Auckland and Waikato principals have had to balance the challenge of managing unvaccinated staff, with preparing to welcome back all school and kura students from years 1 to 10 from Wednesday. "Absolutely, it's been the toughest week in my four years as a principal," says Papakura High School principal Simon Craggs. Seven percent of staff at Papakura High School have not returned on Tuesday. "We've had to say to some really good people you can't come into school for the next few weeks," Craggs says. "That's not easy. It's not easy for the students, for the rest of the staff, for the staff involved in particular, and for our community as a whole." He told vaccinated staff their former colleagues are still valued, despite their differences, and the door has been left open should they change their minds. "Those staff members who have chosen not to take the vaccine are still the same staff members who they sat next to in the staff room three months ago, had great conversations with, were friends with," Cragg says. The Ministry of Education doesn't hold vaccine information so was unable to say how many teachers were unvaccinated. But the Principals' Federation says its surveys indicate that 97 percent of school staff, and 99 percent of teachers are vaccinated, meaning around 600-700 teachers were unable to return to work. "Principals will continue to work with those teachers, continue to support them and provide information," Rush says. "Our hope is we will get as many of our workforce vaccinated as possible." Teachers are mandated to get vaccinated because children under 12 can't receive the jab. Dr Ashley Bloomfield says children tend not to get sick, but are a group that transmits COVID around the community, so a balance must be struck between risks and benefits. The Director-General of Health is keeping an eye on studies in the US, where children aged five to 11 are getting the Pfizer vaccine. "We can look carefully at what emerges in terms of safety profile in the US, so that's going to be really important in terms of informing our discussion," Dr Bloomfield says. Not every school will be reopening on Wednesday. Papakura High School expects to welcome back years 9 and 10 students on Friday, with a staggered reintroduction. Manurewa High School - one of the country's largest - has told years 9 and 10 students they won't be returning for the rest of the year, and will finish out the year with online learning. "We understand this decision will be disappointing for some students and whanau, but we hope you will understand that we are putting the Hauora and safety of our community first, as we always do," principal Pete Jones told students and parents in an email. The school has cited Auckland's rising case numbers, advice from health expert Dr Rawiri Jansen, and concerns from students, staff, and whanau in its decision. Te Kura Akonga o Manurewa has taken every precaution as it prepares to re-open. "I'm ready. I'm ready to go," says principal Irihapeti Matiaha. "What we needed to ensure was that it sat around the values, and the culture of our kura. "There were quite a few things I had to eliminate from our normal day-to-day." Whole-school assemblies, sport, and the morning karakia are off the table, and the staff room is off-limits. While only a small number of students are returning on Wednesday, Matiaha has one thing that gives her more confidence than many principals. 100 percent of her staff are fully vaccinated. "I count myself lucky, but at the same time I know it wasn't an easy journey to go through, from four to five weeks ago," Matiaha says. "She's been a big one but we got through it, and I always believe we would." A journey that after 13 long weeks, is about to reach its biggest test yet.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/low-vaccinated-regions-to-face-auckland-style-red-restrictions-under-new-framework/ar-AAQNrNl?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 If the article link doesn't work, here's a copy of it below: Low vaccinated regions to face Auckland-style 'red' restrictions under new framework. The newest of our new normals is just around the corner. The Government will turn on the 'traffic light' system across the entire country next month - no matter how vaccinated we are. But if your region is under-vaccinated, you'll face Auckland-style 'red light' restrictions. Letting Aucklanders loose put a real dampener on the day of some people in Dunedin, with Newshub being told it's "a bit risky" and they're "not keen on them coming down to the South Island". "I reckon it's a bad idea," one local said. But Aucklanders are coming and so is a whole new system. But the good people of the south haven't the foggiest what the traffic light system even is. People in Dunedin Newshub spoke to described it as "a wee bit hard to navigate", while others said they "don't really understand it that much". "I've heard of it - don't entirely understand it," a local said. Here it is in a nutshell: 'Green' or 'prepare' will be a lot like alert level 1. 'Orange' or 'reduce' will see venues have capacity limits and restrictions for non-vaccinated people. 'Red' or 'restrict' will be similar to level 3 to deal with major outbreaks. The lights go on at the beginning of December across the whole country. That's right - 90 percent vaccination rate or not, it's full speed ahead. "We are in a new phase in our fight against COVID-19," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday, after announcing that the Auckland border will be dropped on December 15. "No area will step into this framework at 'green'," Ardern said. Even in Dunedin where there's been no COVID-19 since May 2020 - more than 500 days ago - it will be 'orange' first. "As we step in, you will see us be cautious and conservative," Ardern said. Auckland will move to 'red'. Anywhere outside the outbreak area with more than 90 percent vaccination rates will go to 'orange'. If a region's vaccination rate is too low - places like Northland and Tairawhiti - they'll be a red light district, too. "Vaccination levels will really in the future be part of our consideration for when you see different regions move into different levels of the system," Ardern said. National leader Judith Collins isn't optimistic. "The Government has yet again not delivered any certainty other than the certainty of chaos." Once the summer break ends, that becomes all the more important, because come January 17 there'll be no vaccine or test requirements to leave Auckland. "Delta is here, and we have changed our strategy," Ardern said. It took a while to get here because while we were prepped for Delta to arrive, the Government never had a plan for it sticking around. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield admitted to Parliament's Health Select Committee on Wednesday that the only plan was zero - our elimination strategy. "We were ready for an outbreak response, which is what we had done with a significant surge, people in quarantine - and then going back down to an elimination approach again, and we've had to switch that." Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi is concerned because only 62 percent of Māori are fully vaccinated. "The arrogance of this Government and its health officials has meant that Māori are now at the back of the queue." Otago University Professor Michael Baker, an epidemiologist, says there should have been a plan for groups with low vaccination. "We didn't plan for, and I think this was a real problem, is that we needed other strategies to deal with transmission in marginalised groups," he told Newshub.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/vax-mandate-decision-for-police-imminent-poto-williams/ar-AAQMuFK If the link doesn't work, here's a copy of the article: Vax mandate decision for police 'imminent' - Poto Williams. A decision on mandating COVID-19 vaccination for police is "imminent", according to Police Minister Poto Williams. "The mandating? We are working on that with other ministers right now and decisions on that are imminent, very soon," she told reporters when asked for an update. "They're very soon, so alongside other ministers, we have to make decisions, but that won't be far away. I've already been on record as wanting to keep the police safe." The Government has already mandated vaccination for border workers, health workers, education staff and customer-facing personnel such as hospitality - about 40 percent of the workforce so far. The deadline for education staff to have had their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine was on Monday, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was unaware of any schools seeking an exemption for staff. Education Minister Chris Hipkins told The AM Show on Wednesday there were "about less than a dozen schools that the Ministry of Education are working very closely with that are having more issues than others". "That's not to say other schools haven't had to juggle things but most schools have been able to manage this," Hipkins said. "Across the health sector and across the education sector we've had really, really good levels of uptake. The latest report I had from DHBs was down to about 2 to 3 percent at most of all of the DHB staff who hadn't been fully vaccinated. That's a really high vaccination rate across District Health Boards." Vaccine mandates have been a particularly contentious issue for the Government. An estimated 2000 people marched on Parliament last week demanding the mandates be repealed, and MPs have revealed death threats from anti-vaxxers. (BITE Model - https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/) The latest Ministry of Health data shows there are still 57,625 eligible people yet to receive a first dose of the vaccine for DHBs to reach 90 percent. The highest is in Northland, where 11,758 people have yet to receive a dose.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/11/opposition-erupts-after-jacinda-ardern-defends-allowing-crowded-shopping-in-auckland-but-not-outdoor-dining.html Here's the copy of the article if the link doesn't work: Opposition erupts after Jacinda Ardern defends allowing crowded shopping in Auckland but not outdoor dining. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was met with jeering in Parliament after she defended allowing crowded shopping at malls in Auckland but not socially distanced outdoor dining. Retail has been allowed in Auckland since last week when the city moved to alert level 3, step 2, which also allows public venues like museums to open. But hospitality must remain closed, even if it's socially distanced and outdoors. National leader Judith Collins asked Ardern in Parliament on Tuesday why "thousands of people are allowed to go shopping at Sylvia Park in Auckland but an Auckland restaurant cannot serve people in their outside dining area". Ardern replied: "Taken across as a whole, the profile of hospitality is just different to retail. And that's been recognised throughout this pandemic." Her response was met with what House Speaker Trevor Mallard described as a "barrage from at least 15 members" of the Opposition. National MPs have been advocating on behalf of frustrated business owners. The New Zealand Companies Office Register shows more than 26,000 businesses have disappeared in the last eight months. Ardern said other nations have done the same. "You will not find a country around the world that I can think of that has treated hospitality and retail the same. In that vein, some countries have only recently allowed their hospitality services to reopen fully since February 2020," she said. "We've been in a vastly different set of circumstances. Yes, they've been at the frontline of restrictions, but when we move into the new Protection Framework, that is when the industry will have greater certainty and that will be part of our progress in our response to COVID." The new COVID Protection Framework, or 'traffic light' system announced three weeks ago, was set to come into effect for Auckland once 90 percent of the eligible population was fully vaccinated. Under the traffic light system, freedoms will be determined by vaccine certificates. For example, when Auckland enters the 'red' light, hospitality venues can open with up to 100 fully vaccinated people, but businesses that choose not to use certificates must remain contactless. For the rest of the country, each district health board (DHB) would have to reach 90 percent. However, Ardern said on Monday she strongly supports an early move into the new framework, after she was advised it "provides greater protection" than the alert levels. Both Collins and ACT leader David Seymour have speculated that moving into the new traffic light system is held up by slow progress on vaccine certificates. "Is it not the real problem that the law and the software for the COVID Protection Framework are not ready yet and the vaccination rates are not the problem and she's just buying time for the software?" Seymour said in Parliament. Ardern strongly denied that's the case. "Absolutely not! In fact, one of the concerns is until you have high vaccination rates, if you choose to no longer use some of the blanket restrictions we've had available to us, there is concern that outbreaks - both because you don't have high enough vaccination rates and because you aren't using widespread restrictions - get out of control," she said. "That is why you have to have both good vaccination rates and a framework that utilises those vaccination rates to maximise the safety for the whole population." Ardern said on Monday what's changed is that COVID-19 is spreading south. The Ministry of Health reported 20 cases in Waikato on Tuesday, as well as two in Wairarapa and 2 in Taupô. "What we also have to factor in, is if we are seeing the beginning of cases outside of Auckland, what gives us the greatest protection in that environment? And it's clear that the Protection Framework does that." Alert level 2, she explained, allows vaccinated and unvaccinated people to attend an event at a venue with no gathering restrictions. But under the 'orange' traffic light, this will only apply to events using vaccination certificates.

Here's the link to the article: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/vaccine-certificates-are-ready-here-are-five-things-you-need-to-know/ar-AAQMbZG?ocid=msedgntp . If the article has been deleted, here's a copy: Vaccine certificates are ready - here are five things you need to know. COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced that vaccine certificates are ready to download in time for the summer break. My Vaccine Pass is an official record of someone's COVID-19 vaccination status and will allow access to places that require proof of immunisation under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework. The pass will be able to be downloaded later on Wednesday morning. Hipkins' office did not provide a specific time. He told The AM Show the website is "already struggling to cope". The new COVID Protection Framework, or 'traffic light' system announced three weeks ago, was set to come into effect for Auckland once 90 percent of the eligible population was fully vaccinated. For the rest of the country, each district health board (DHB) would have to reach 90 percent. However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday she strongly supports an early move into the new framework, after she was advised it "provides greater protection" than the alert levels. Under the traffic light system, freedoms will be determined by vaccine certificates. For example, when Auckland enters the 'red' light, hospitality venues can open with up to 100 fully vaccinated people, but businesses that choose not to use certificates must remain contactless. With vaccine certificates ready to go, the new COVID Protection Framework can come into effect, once Cabinet decides to implement it. Here are five things to know. 1. Where can you download it? My Vaccine Pass will be issued by the Ministry of Health. You can log onto My COVID Record to make a request for the free pass or call 0800 222 478. My Vaccine Pass will include your name, date of birth and a QR code. The pass can be saved on your digital device or printed as a physical copy. If you have a temporary medical exemption, you can call 0800 222 478 to request a My Vaccine Pass. You may be asked a few things to confirm your identity, such as your name and date of birth. You won't need your National Health Index (NHI) number. "People can log in from later this morning, but we're asking for patience and for people to wait for a couple of days to ease any demand on the IT system and call centre staff," Hipkins said on Wednesday. "It is your official proof of vaccination and a ticket to enjoy the extra freedoms that will come with the COVID-19 Protection Framework. To get one, people will need to be fully vaccinated or be one of the very small number of Kiwis who have received a medical exemption." 2. Where can you use it? Under the traffic light framework, you'll need a vaccine certificate to attend concerts and music festivals, bars and restaurants, gyms and sports events, and more. You do not have to show proof of your vaccination status to access supermarkets, pharmacies, all health and disability services, food banks or petrol stations. Proof of vaccination is also not required in education settings, on all public transport other than air travel, or accessing housing support services under state sector agencies. And for children under the age of 12, there is no requirement to show proof of vaccination. Hipkins said proof of a booster shot is not required "at this stage" to be able to get a vaccine certificate. Booster shots will be available from November 26 for those who had their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine six months ago. 3. How long is it valid for? Vaccine certificates are valid for six months. The reason for this is that booster shots "may be required to ensure ongoing protection against COVID-19 and because medical exemptions are only valid for six months", Hipkins said. If vaccination passes are still required after a pass has expired, you will need to request another one to prove your vaccinations are current. It's anticipated that the need for proof of a vaccine certification when travelling internationally will be in place for years to come. 4. Can you use it to travel internationally? A separate international vaccine certificate can be requested now through My Covid Record. It's recommended you request a certificate a week or so before the date you intend to travel overseas. You will receive a separate QR code for your international vaccine certificate. These certificates will be recognised by international jurisdictions and are for travel purposes only. Remember, international arrivals are still required to spend seven days in a state-run managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facility, and then self-isolate at home, so things aren't back to normal. The international certificates have an expiry date of one year. The Government recommends checking the requirements of the country you're travelling to and find out what proof of vaccination, if any, is needed. International vaccine certificates from New Zealand are recognised as part of the EU Digital Covid Certificate. These certificates are being widely recognised by countries outside of Europe, including New Zealand, Australia and the United States. It means New Zealand certificates may be used as proof of vaccine when entering 49 countries, with more countries expected to come. 5. Which vaccines are recognised? Pfizer/BioNTech Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) AstraZeneca (Oxford) AstraZeneca/Covishield (Serum Institute of India) Moderna Sinopharm Sinovac (CoronaVac) Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) "A process has been put in place for people who have had their COVID-19 vaccinations overseas to have these recognised here and submit an application for My Vaccine Pass," Hipkins said. "The application process for this may take up to 14 days as details will initially be manually entered into the COVID-19 Immunisation Register. People are advised to prepare all their vaccine evidence from overseas and get their applications in as soon as possible from tomorrow."