Jacs WE KNOW
BUBBLE OVER? Due to the growing outbreak in Australia, the Prime Minister (effectively) burst the trans-Tasman bubble recently. “There are now multiple outbreaks, and in differing stages of containment, that have forced three states into lockdown. The health risk to New Zealanders from these cases is increasing,” she said on July 23. “This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe. While there may be some exemptions, the vast majority of those travelling from Australia to New Zealand now have to spend 14 days in quarantine. “Now is the time for a suspension to ensure New Zealanders aren’t put at undue risk from COVID-19 and to ensure we retain our hardwon gains. Our team of five million has worked hard to put us in a strong position both health-wise and economically.” Suspension of quarantine-free travel began for Australians on July 23; some New Zealanders were permitted to return on ‘managed flights’, without quarantine, up until July 30. “We do want the bubble to resume,” Ms Ardern added. “We remain committed to it… but it must be safe.”
OF ‘DUALING’ CITIZENRY Despite ‘very strong representations’ to her counterpart across the ditch, Ms Ardern has agreed that a woman with suspected connections to the Islamic State will be repatriated to New Zealand along with her children.
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As the ‘year of the vaccine’ continues, our Prime Minister has been encouraging her citizens to face facts about getting ‘vaxed’. As our commentary based on reports from Ms Ardern’s office show, once again, tackling the pandemic has been at the front of the queue on her priority list.
“New Zealand is not able to remove citizenship from a person and leave them stateless,” the PM said late last month. “They are not Turkey’s responsibility, and with Australia refusing to accept the family, that makes them ours. “[She] was a dual New ZealandAustralian citizen until Australia revoked her citizenship… Unfortunately, Australia would not reverse the cancellation of citizenship.” Born in New Zealand, the woman moved to Australia aged six. She remained there until leaving for Syria on an Australian passport in 2014. The family was detained by Turkish authorities at its border with Syria earlier this year. The PM said whether or not the woman will face charges related to association with a terrorist group on arrival in New Zealand is ‘a matter for the Police’.
A-PEC-KING’S ORDER Retreats usually involve getting away from it all but APEC’s recent Informal Leaders’ Retreat was all about setting bows into the storm. Chaired by our PM, the online meeting on July 16, which was specifically focused on the pandemic, involved 21 leaders from throughout the Asia/Pacific region. “Nobody is safe from this virus until everyone is safe,” Ms Ardern said. “Front of mind for leaders is achieving widespread access for vaccines globally and working collaboratively to provide them to everyone as soon as possible… Our discussions moved us beyond vaccine nationalism. Now we are focusing on all aspects of contributing to the global vaccination effort - making vaccines, sharing vaccines and using vaccines.”
Looking ahead, pathways to rebuilding economically were also explored. “We are also pushing for collaborative and practical solutions on safely reconnecting with the world by continuing to explore options including vaccine passports, travel green lanes and quarantine-free travel bubbles. “This is a challenge to which we are working hard to find creative solutions,” Ms Ardern added. “We have the opportunity to build back better and emerge from this crisis more inclusive, more sustainable and more adaptable than ever.”
BIDEN – HER TIME When the leader of the world’s last stop before Antarctica (ie: New Zealand’s Prime Minister) chatted with the ‘leader of the free world’ (ie: the USA), the pair had many things to discuss. “I thanked the President [Joe Biden] for the United States joining the Christchurch Call and how their membership has provided momentum to the work to eradicate violent extremist content online,” Ms Ardern said following their phone conversation in mid-July. While the Christchurch Call was the last point the PM’s report mentions, EastLife cannot be sure where on the agenda it featured. However, other matters (perhaps) took precedence. “I raised the importance of strengthening the economic architecture in the [Pacific] region post-COVID in order to facilitate greater trade and investment… We also discussed the vaccine roll-out, both domestically and in the Pacific region and both our countries efforts to ensure vaccine availability.”
Jacinda Ardern.
In addition, the pair chatted about the ‘stability of the Indo-Pacific region’ although the PM’s official release does not say whether the potential for ‘violent extremism’ emanating from China was included.
THREE WATERS – COSTS RUN DEEP A $2.5 billion support package – no drop in the bucket – is intended to help reform New Zealand’s water supply, our Prime Minister asserted recently. “New Zealand’s water systems are facing a significant crisis and will continue to do so without major transformation. Overhauling our drinking, waste and stormwater services will benefit all New Zealand communities, no matter where they are in the country,” she said in mid-July. The latest funding is designed to help reform water management to be run in partnership between central a local government. “The support package will ensure that no council is worse off as a result of the reforms. The $500 million is to provide certainty for local authorities that they will be supported through the transition process… We have set aside $2 billion for councils to invest in the future for local government, urban development, and the wellbeing of their communities.” The latest funding follows $761 million committed to the reform programme in 2020, and $296 from Budget 2021 to form new ‘water entities’. And, there is to be a lot more water (and money) to pass under the bridge; communities will need to invest between $120-185 billion over the next 30 years to ‘maintain, replace and upgrade ageing assets’. www.eastlife.co.nz
