31 Aug 2021

Covid-19: Socially distanced Parliament resumes sitting today

From Morning Report, 8:17 am on 31 August 2021

A scaled-back socially-distanced Parliament will resume sitting in person today after plans for a virtual option were rejected by Opposition parties.

Parliament was suspended last week on the advice of the Director-General of Health, who warned a large indoor gathering and MPs travelling to the Capital poses a health risk.

But not every party will be represented today, with both the Greens and Te Paati Māori point-blank refusing to come under alert level 4.