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Leave out all the rest tab12/28/2022 New Zealand will ease into a new “traffic light system” from Friday with regions put into red, orange and green zones depending on vaccination rates and COVID-19 cases. The new Omicron variant is increasing concerns among Maori, but has yet to be seen in New Zealand, or impact re-opening plans. “We experience every systemic failure just by being Maori,” said Ngarewa-Packer. This, coupled with institutional racism, a high mistrust in government and poor health access for Maori living in smaller towns, meant many were slow to get vaccinated or simply left out, Maori leaders say. About 70% of Maori are under the age of 40. Some community leaders blame the low uptake on the government’s vaccination strategy, which included prioritising shots for elderly. Only about 69% of eligible Maori are fully vaccinated compared to nearly 90% of the rest of New Zealand. Like many indigenous peoples, Maori fare worse than the rest of the population when it comes to health and well-being measures. Maori, who make up around 15% of New Zealand’s 5 million population, now account for the highest proportion of new COVID-19 cases, averaging around 200 a day. “The prime minister is intent on opening up before Christmas even if it’s at the expense of Maori.” “It seems like Maori are the most expendable in this country,” Maori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told Reuters. Some of the world’s toughest pandemic measures enforced by the South Pacific nation are easing on Friday New Zealand to ease COVID measures this week despite Omicron threat – PM, with businesses reopening nationwide after Ardern’s government abandoned its elimination strategy in the face of the contagious Delta variant.ĭomestic border curbs in the pandemic epicentre Auckland are due to end mid-December and international borders restrictions will loosen progressively from January.īut as businesses and New Zealand’s majority ethnic European population largely welcome the reopening ahead of the Christmas holidays, some Maori fear further marginalisation.
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