4 Nov 2021

Covid-19: People against vaccination should respect others' decision to get it - Robertson

From Morning Report, 7:19 am on 4 November 2021

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson says if people against vaccinations believe in choice they should respect peoples' decisions to get the jab.

Protests have appeared at vaccination centres in recent days, including one the Prime Minister was due to visit on Wednesday.

Robertson told Morning Report vaccination is a critical way for New Zealand to get back to some form of normality.

"If these so called anti-vaxxers, believe in choice, as I hear some of them say, then they should respect the choice of those who are going to get vaccinated."

He said those stridently against vaccination comprise a tiny minority of the whole population.

"I do think it's also important for people just to take a breather here and remember that the vast bulk of the population is on board with this vaccination program.

"We're heading up towards that 90 percent level, we know that there's a group of people who just need a bit more information, a bit more certainty, a good conversation with someone that they trust, and then there's a small percentage of people who hold these anti-vax views, often as a result of misinformation.

"They are a tiny minority, the vast bulk of New Zealanders are doing the right thing, and they deserve to be supported to do that."

Robertson said vaccination may be the key to getting out of Auckland over summer if the government's new traffic light restrictions framework is not in place.

The new framework will not be in place until 90 percent of every DHB is vaccinated, and Auckland's border closure is set to stay until that goal is reached too.

Robertson said the government does want to give Aucklanders certainty over Christmas though.

" If we haven't got the framework going by that point in time, then yes, we would be looking at using vaccines certificates, perhaps a test as well, to allow people to move…

"You can imagine that that's a big logistical exercise, but what we want to do is give Aucklanders the certainty that they can move around at Christmas time, but also protect the rest of New Zealand.

"This is one example of one of the many difficult and challenging decisions and trade-offs that we have. We're working through how that will work now, getting vaccinated will absolutely be a key to be able to move around the country."

Unemployment figures prompt interest rates warning

Robertson, who is also Finance Minister, is warning the economic recovery may mean higher mortgage repayment rates.

Unemployment is down to 3.4 percent, which is has a flow on effect to inflation.

Inflation is at 4.9 percent - a historically high level - which means the Reserve Bank is likely to continue to lift interest rates.

Robertson said mortgage holders - or prospective ones - need to be aware interest rates may well rise.