Twenty-four new community cases of Covid-19 were announced in Auckland and the Waikato today, while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern introduced New Zealand's new vaccination certificates plan and Auckland prepared to enter Stage 1 of easing its level 3 restrictions.
Photo: RNZ / Supplied / Pool Stuff
New Zealand's "vaccine passport" will launch by November and is likely to be a digital Covid-19 vaccination certificate containing a QR code.
A vaccine certificate is proof that you have been vaccinated and is now common overseas, Ardern said at today's 1pm press conference.
For now the certificates will be used as a tool in high-risk settings including large events and festivals and the government is consulting on their use in places like hospitality.
It will not be used for places like supermarkets or essential health services.
Rhythm and Vines founder and director Hamish Pinkham told RNZ's Checkpoint the Covid-19 vaccine certificate announcement is a positive step in the right direction.
"We've been in some holding pattern the last few weeks until we got a bit of clarity.
"As promoters we can start now to work towards running safe and secure events."
There were 24 new Covid-19 cases announced in the community today, 18 of which are in Auckland.
The other six are in the Waikato. Three of the Waikato cases were made public yesterday but are included in today's numbers.
There are two cases in recent returnees in managed isolation and quarantine.
Of today's 24 cases, seven are yet to be linked. Of yesterday's cases, eight cases remain unlinked. All the Waikato cases are linked.
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Auckland begins to ease Level 3 restrictions
The government has kept Auckland at alert level 3 but from midnight it enters "Step 1" of what was announced yesterday as a three-part stepping down of tight restrictions.
Among the changes will be allowing a maximum of 10 people from two bubbles who can gather outdoors, but must maintain physical distancing.
Travel within Auckland will be allowed for exercise, sports or outdoor recreation, and early learning centres can reopen to all children, with a maximum of 10 children in each bubble.
Some frontline doctors and nurses worry the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in Auckland will fuel more cases in the community.
Auckland GP Api Talemaitoga was taken by surprise at the new socialising rule.
"I thought, whoa, that's just fantastic - if they're all fully vaccinated," Talemaitoga said.
"But as we know, with our vaccination rates being low, it's just the potential to allow this virus to spread."
Auckland intensive care nurse and vice chair of the College of Critical Care Nurses Steve Kirby had seen the impact of the virus first hand.
"A lot of my colleagues are feeling the stress and anxiety of the outbreak as well as the constant pressure on the system," he said.
There's been mixed reaction abroad as well to the plan, with some overseas media saying New Zealand was "giving up on its zero tolerance approach."
Newmarket Business Association boss Mark Knoff-Thomas told Checkpoint the roadmap out of level 3 is confusing, with no certainty for businesses.
Court summons over lockdown protest
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki was summonsed to appear in Auckland District Court next week in relation to organising the mass gathering event at the Auckland Domain on Saturday.
Tamaki, who released a statement tonight that he intends to defend the charges, will appear on charges which relate to breaching the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 and the alert level 3 order.
In announcing the charges this afternoon, Acting Auckland City District Commander Superintendent Shanan Gray said that the gathering of around 1000 people was in breach of level 3 restrictions, which limit gatherings to weddings, funerals and tangihanga with no more than 10 people.
The protest was hosted by Tamaki.
Photo: Supplied / Screenshot
Big queues again for limited MIQ spots
It was another nerve-wracking day for thousands of New Zealanders abroad trying to get back in the country as more managed isolation spots were released.
It was the third release of the MIQ virtual lobby system, with around 3700 rooms released and up to 25,000 people vying for them.
Auckland woman Roshni Sami has been trying to get a spot in managed isolation for her husband, so he can return to New Zealand for the birth of their first child.
"We expected that four or five months would be enough time to go through the old MIQ system to get a place but then everything was scrapped and now we're just in the lottery with everyone else and it's becoming very desperate for us and we're both extremely worried."
Martin Newell, who is part of the Grounded Kiwis group that is working to support hundreds of New Zealanders stuck overseas, said there were tears of joy and tears of sadness from those vying for a spot in MIQ today.
"People are desperate and the system is broken and it needs to be fixed," he said.
Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn
Quest to raise vaccination numbers continues
More than 55,000 vaccine doses were delivered yesterday, and a total of 5.4 million first and second doses have now been administered across New Zealand. But health officials are keen to continue raising those numbers.
In Taranaki, the head of the local vaccine rollout said the virus will come there eventually.
"Make no mistake, Covid-19 is headed for Taranaki, and the impact it will have on our whole community should not be underestimated," Bevan Clayton-Smith said.
"Get vaccinated. It's as simple as that. Get vaccinated now to stop this virus from damaging our Taranaki communities, our loved ones and our way of life. Protect what you hold dear."
But it was also revealed today that there are 138 border workers employed by private firms who have missed the deadline to be vaccinated.
Of the 138 border workers who have not had their first vaccination, 21 were working in airports, 24 were working in managed isolation and quarantine, and 82 were working at ports.
The question of whether teachers should be required to be vaccinated is also still in the air.
President of the primary teachers' union the New Zealand Educational Institute Liam Rutherford told Checkpoint they are waiting for the government to make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for teachers before they make a call on it.
"The advice at this stage is everybody should go out and get vaccinated and that's 100 percent the right move," he said. "And that's what we've been encouraging members to do. Talk of vaccine mandates hasn't come to light yet, so we're not calling for that."
Yesterday Education Minister / Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins did not say if vaccination for school teachers would be mandatory, but signalled tougher rules for unvaccinated teachers will be introduced.
Thousands of Pasifika youth were also vaccinated at a mass event held at Auckland's Vodafone Events Centre.
South Seas Chief executive Silao Vaisola-Sefo said it was successful because it was community-driven.
He said they wanted to take people on a journey through the process of getting vaccinated and to create a festival atmosphere.