Easing Auckland restrictions now is two weeks too early, Māori leaders say

Māori leaders say that it is two weeks too soon to ease restrictions in Tāmaki Makaurau, Stuff reports. A shift to Alert level 3, Step 2, will put the vulnerable and unvaccinated at greater risk, said Dr Sue Crengle. Crengle, a member of the National Māori pandemic group, said another two to three weeks were needed to boost vaccination coverage for Māori so they have a chance to protect themselves from Covid-19. Papakura Marae chief executive Tony Kake said his kaimahi were going door to door vaccinating whānau but they needed another two weeks to a month to get Māori vaccination rates up to 90 per cent.