27 Sep 2021

Covid-19: Young people need some rights taken away to encourage vaccination - Sir John Key

From Morning Report, 8:10 am on 27 September 2021

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key says the current Government has no plan to open its borders or fix its managed isolation system.

Sir John has called for less emphasis on fear as a way of encouraging people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

"If you want to get the young people who are not being vaccinated, to be vaccinated, take away some of their rights, Rhythm and Vines, nightclubs, bars, Air New Zealand flights," he told Morning Report.

He also said the current government is leaving people stateless through its mismanagement of the borders and MIQ.

"People are crying on TV and on radio stations, every single day, because they are stateless, they cannot come back to New Zealand."

Sir John's plan comes out ahead of the National Party, which he used to lead, releasing its own one. 

He said he had not spoken to current leader Judith Collins before releasing his plan, but had done so after the fact.

"I wasn't aware that they had announcement coming out.

"But, what I can tell you is, they're gonna come out on Wednesday. I haven't seen it, but they've got some very smart people in there, I'm pretty sure you'll find that they'll come out with some fairly clear things."