'Idiots of the highest order' - National MP blasts Govt’s Waikato lockdown extension

October 13, 2021
National MP David Bennett (file photo).

National MP David Bennett is blasting the Government for deciding to extend the Alert Level 3 lockdown for parts of the Waikato

On Wednesday, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed restrictions in areas of the Waikato as far north as Huntly to as far south as Te Kuiti would remain until at least 11.59pm Monday, October 18. 

Northland would also remain in Alert Level 3 until at least Monday. 

Hamilton-based list MP Bennett  criticised the move on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon. 

“[The] elimination strategy is dead and buried. Still locking down Waikato though,” he wrote. 

“These guys never intended to let us out of this alert level. They tell a lot of spin about irrelevancies but won’t do their job of protecting our borders. 

“PM [Jacinda Ardern] also missing in action again. They are idiots of the highest order.” 

The Covid-19 Response Minister says the Government defines “elimination” as driving the virus out.

Ardern last fronted the 1pm press conference on Tuesday. 

There were 55 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, two in Waikato and the rest in Auckland. 

The two new cases in Waikato have not yet been linked to the current Delta outbreak

University of Canterbury modeller Professor Michael Plank said the two mystery cases in the Waikato probably played “a big part” in the Government’s decision to extend lockdown. 

“Obviously the concern being is that if there are those two unlinked cases that there could be a number of other cases out in the community that haven’t been found yet.”

Hipkins said there was a worry people who could have been infected and may be symptomatic may be reluctant to come forward to get tested in Northland, and there were two unlinked cases in Waikato. 

He stressed that any information gathered during the Covid testing process would be used to stamp out Covid and it would not be used for any other purpose. 

Hipkins also acknowledged on Wednesday New Zealand was “coming into a period where we are likely to see quite significant growth in cases”. 

Meanwhile, the ACT Party is calling for the Government to “admit [it] has made mistakes and reset the response”. 

“The increases in case numbers and, crucially, mystery cases means that the Government’s strategy is not working. It is on course for rapidly increasing cases, and Covid for Christmas,” leader David Seymour said. 

“As the Government rolls out its three stages, cases will grow, hospitalisation will rise, but freedom and certainty will be as far away as ever. 

“It is delivering the worst of all worlds.”

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