The first layer of defence is our border. With COVID cases increasing around the world, in a growing number of countries, the risk of travellers arriving at the border with COVID increases. The Government will continue to strengthen border protections. Testing, infection control procedures, and professional and quality staffing will remain cornerstones of the response.
For those countries where the virus is successfully managed, the Government will look for opportunities for freer travel. Planning tor quarantine free travel zones is currently underway with the Cook Islands, Niue and Australia. We will look to continue to advance these opportunities, but with safety as our priority.
We will continue to welcome New Zealanders home.
We will also create opportunities for businesses to access the skills they need. The Government will ensure that up to 10 percent of places in our managed isolation facilities are used by people granted exceptions to enter New Zealand to contribute to accelerating our recovery.
The Government will continue to enhance the next layer of defence, our contact tracing and testing systems, to ensure in the event of cases entering the community it can quickly circle the virus and stamp it out. This will involve investment in ongoing technical enhancements to the COVID Tracer App and looking for ways to increase the use of technology.
We have expanded the surveillance testing programme to provide extra protection against pathways for infection. This term we will look for opportunities to take advantage of developments in technology to expand the reach of our early warning system.
Finally, the Government is working to deliver effective and free vaccines to New Zealanders as soon as they are available and safe to administer.
Recent news of the progress in vaccine development is welcome and a bright spot on the horizon. This will be a central focus for the Government next year.
The Government is working hard to secure supply for New Zealand and to design an immunisation programme to support distribution in New Zealand. New Zealand also has an important role in supporting Pacific countries with access to a COVID-19 vaccine and their rollout of their immunisation programmes. New Zealand's obligations to the Pacific are a core part of the Vaccine Strategy.
We are hopeful that 2021 will be the year of the COVID vaccine.
Accelerating the Recovery
The Government's COVID recovery plan is already underway. It will now be accelerated as the plans for recovery set out in Labour's election manifesto are implemented.
The New Zealand economy has held up better than expected. Aggressive action to eliminate the virus; strong and early efforts to save jobs and support businesses; and innovative and nimble responses from our businesses have positioned the economy well. But the global picture is bleak.
The ongoing impact of COVID on the global economy is the most significant risk to our future growth. The virus' spread abroad will have a downstream impact on our exporters and impact economic activity domestically.
New Zealand will be cushioned from that slump by the Government's five point economic plan to foster jobs and growth:
- $42 billion of infrastructure investment to future proof the economy
- Training and job creation opportunities to support workers and businesses
- Support for small business to grow and thrive
- Programmes to bolster our exports
- And policies that prepare New Zealand for the future by making the most of our competitive advantage in renewable energy and waste reduction.
