Hone Harawira struck them Government plan to allow Aucklanders to travel from December 15th, saying this will create a “summer of hell” for the people of Tai Tokerau.
Former MP and executive director of Northland iwi-led checkpoint group Tai Tokerau Border Control said the decision would be made “devastating consequences” for the people of Tai Tokerau.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Wednesday that the country would switch to the traffic light system towards the end of November.
Denise Piper / stuff
Former Tai Tokerau MP and Head of Border Control Hone Harawira says the move to let Covid-19 out of Auckland will be devastating for Tai Tokerau.
From December 15 to January 17 – the summer holiday season – Aucklanders can leave the city if they are fully vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test.
CONTINUE READING:
* The government opens the border with Auckland on December 15 and allows travel for Christmas
* Covid-19: Are Aucklanders Welcomed With Open Arms When They Can Travel?
* Covid-19: Asks Northland to return to lockdown after seven Covid cases
But Harawira said Let people leave Auckland would allow Covid to travel out of the city and meet Northland communities, particularly the Māori in the north, he said.
“Tai Tokerau Māori live in some of New Zealand’s least-invested and disadvantaged communities,” he said.
These communities have struggled with housing shortages, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, and violence and suicide, many of which increased with Covid-19, Harawira said.
“Due to a lack of access to resources and an inequitable health system, the Māori suffer disproportionately from weakened immune systems, liver disease, cancer, kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes – the diseases that are natural breeding grounds for Covid-19 and its offspring.”, Delta, “he said .
Denise Piper / stuff
Acting Northland Police Department chief Riki Whiu and Hone Harawira have agreed to work together on checkpoints, but Harawira says spot checks will not work. (File photo)
“Covid cases are increasing every day, and so are governments Refusal to give Māori health care providers access to critical medical data means whānau, hapū and iwi are facing a summer from hell, while frustrated Australians come through Tai Tokerau exuberantly. “
Ardern said police will monitor the Auckland border at their own discretion, including spot checks to make sure people follow the rules and a $ 1000 fine if they don’t.
Police worked with iwi on the northern border to make sure people are safe, she said.
But Harawira said random police checks were “not worth considering”.
“Samples have been a failure in the past and will fail here as well.”
Harawira said Tai Tokerau border control will work with local authorities, health officials, police and iwi to try to protect the community.
“[We will] to try to limit the damage that open roads do to communities that are completely unprepared for the flood of visitors released to the north. “
