Daily Archives: February 17, 2022

New Zealands Matt Henry made a memorable return to Test cricket in the opening match against South Africa and the 30-year-old said it was surreal to match a benchmark set by Richard Hadlee, who cheered him on at the Hagley Oval on Thursday.

Henrys seven for 23 blew away South Africa who were bundled out for 95, their lowest against New Zealand, and put the home side in the box seat. It was a stunning display of pace bowling by Henry, playing his first Test in eight months only because Trent Boult is away on paternity leave.

Only Ajaz Patel (10-119) and Hadlee (9-52) have returned better Test figures by a New Zealander. Hadlee, who was present at the ground to cheer Henry, had also claimed 7-23 against India in 1976.

Youve got to kind of pinch yourself a little bit when you hear those stats and to be able to share that with Sir Richard Hadlee is pretty special, Henry said. It was a pretty surreal moment really.

World Test champions New Zealand finished day one on 116-3 and are eyeing a decisive first-innings lead after Henry routed South Africa. The right-arm quick said his knowledge of the venue came in handy.

I think just playing here at Hagley and having that experience and knowing what my lengths were and how to operate [helped]. As a bowling group, I think we bowled really well together and we were able to create pressure at both ends and not really let them go anywhere, which is probably key to how we got the wickets.

This is Henrys 15th Test since his 2007 debut against England. Being in and out of the squad had not helped, but Henry said his positive outlook had kept him motivated.

Its not always easy at times, but you try not to focus too much on those external things you cant control, making sure Im still in that mindset of just trying to keep getting better.

Thats led me to where I am at the moment where I can keep coming in and stay positive and not get too caught up in those external things and those noises.

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New Zealands Matt Henry puts South Africa to sword with seven for 23 in first Test - The Guardian

Protesters continued their demonstrations against New Zealand's COVID-19 mandates on Saturday. Authorities have used sprinklers and loudspeakers in their efforts to disperse the crowd. Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Protesters continued their demonstrations against New Zealand's COVID-19 mandates on Saturday. Authorities have used sprinklers and loudspeakers in their efforts to disperse the crowd.

Authorities in Wellington, New Zealand, are getting creative in their efforts to disperse the crowd of anti-government protesters who have refused to budge for nearly a week.

After trying direct appeals and deploying sprinklers, they're turning to the hit songs of Barry Manilow, James Blunt and others.

Hundreds of people protesting the government's mask and vaccine mandates arrived in the capital city last week. They set up camp outside Parliament as lawmakers returned from summer recess, and have proceeded to block traffic and gather in the streets ever since.

Superintendent Corrie Parnell, the Wellington District Commander, said on Monday that the disruption to residents, schools and workplaces is "creating real stress and concern."

"We continue to appeal to protesters to leave the demonstration and to take their children it has been wet and cold overnight, and we now have concerns about the health risks posed and sanitation issues," Parnell added.

There were some 3,000 protesters over the weekend, with a constant presence of 400 to 500 people in tents at the encampment and in surrounding streets, Radio New Zealand reported.

Police said on Monday that some protesters had moved their vehicles overnight, and are directing them to relocate to a newly-designated parking facility at Sky Stadium.

The plea follows a series of attempts both direct and indirect to get the protesters to leave.

Officers tried to forcibly clear the grounds on Thursday, arresting more than 120 protesters but failing to significantly disperse the crowd.

"Police have identified a range of different causes and motivations among the protestors, making it difficult to open clear and meaningful lines of communication," Parnell said the next day.

Trevor Mallard, the speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, had Parliament's sprinklers activated on Friday, the fourth day of protests.

According to RNZ, some protesters responded by digging trenches to try to redirect the water to nearby drains. The tents and their occupants stayed put, even as a heavy downpour turned the ground to mud.

On the fifth day, Mallard initiated what RNZ described as "a battle of the music speakers" when he started playing a 15-minute loop of Barry Manilow music (including "Mandy"), "Macarena" by Los del Ro and COVID-19 vaccine advertisements through the speakers inside Parliament buildings. News outlet Stuff reports the tunes were picked from a playlist of the world's 25 most hated songs.

The music was met with boos and the 1984 Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It," which CNN notes has already become a kind of anthem of the Canadian truckers that launched the movement with similar protests late last month.

Mallard's playlist has evolved in recent days, with RNZ reporting it now includes an out-of-tune recorder rendition of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." It also features catchy children's songs, like Frozen's "Let It Go" and "Baby Shark," CNN adds.

English musician James Blunt offered up his own catalog in a tweet, sharing a BBC story about the Manilow music and addressing New Zealand Police: "Give me a shout if this doesn't work." Mallard took him up on the offer.

RNZ reports that Blunt's "You're Beautiful" has been played so many times that protesters now know most of the words and are singing along.

The tactic has made headlines around the world, and elicited mixed reactions.

Mallard told Stuff over the weekend that surrounding residents had been consulted on the plan and were supportive. He said their lives had been disrupted by the protests already, and some had even gone to stay with friends.

"And one of them is a Barry Manilow fan," he added.

Some opposition lawmakers and police authorities have criticized the move, characterizing it as childish and saying it would only spur protesters to stay put.

Parnell told RNZ that "it certainly wouldn't be tactics or methodologies that we would endorse, and it's something we would have preferred did not occur."

"But it did occur, so we have to deal with what we've got in front of us."

This story originally appeared on the Morning Edition live blog.

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New Zealand plays songs from most-hated music list in bid to disperse protesters - NPR

Faced with a rising tide of acrimony, rage, and online crankiness, New Zealand has launched a nationwide campaign to try to calm its citizenry down.

Over the summer, pastel posters began cropping up around the cities, asking New Zealanders to dial it down a notch, read it before you hit enter, and comment with dignity. Cartoon characters entreat keyboard warriors to take a breath, and consider what would your mother say?

The Human Rights Commission which is an independent crown entity launched the campaign late last year. Human rights commissioner Paul Hunt says it was prompted by a rising tide of division and antisocial behaviour.

Complaints and inquiries have gone off the richter scale. People are really stressed and angry, Hunt says. The commission has had more complaints about abuse in the past seven months than its previous record annual high, he says. The monthly rate of complaints had almost doubled, from 525 to an average of 956.

The Dial it Down campaign hoped to remind New Zealanders, Hunt says, that they can have vigorous disagreement without losing the plot.

Since mid-2021, there has been a significant rise in the quantity and extremist tone of chatter on social media, says Kate Hannah, a principal investigator at research institute Te Pnaha Matatini. Researchers were seeing a higher overall volume of violent language and imagery including increased references to lynchings, sexual violence, misogynistic language and profanity. That tone had become commonplace on mainstream platforms, she says.

[One] thing that seems really shocking to me is the level of vulgarity. I know that sounds prudish but Im not a prude, Im a kiwi, I swear. Were not Americans, she says referring to a generally higher antipodean tolerance for swearing. The other thing thats shocking is [seeing this] from people on Facebook who look like or they appear to be like my mum or my aunty, in their 60s or 70s, using the C-word, she says. That is not necessarily something that were used to.

Hunt believes that much of the uptick can be blamed on pandemic stress, and the long, grim months of lockdown.

Two years of the pandemic is very, very tough. So people are struggling financially, emotionally, mentally, they feel powerless, and theyre struggling to cope. And sometimes people do lash out at something else or someone else.

A large current of abuse has flowed toward journalists who are often the communicators of pandemic policy, infuriating both those who see them as government lackeys or as over-critical of the governments response.

The block button has been hot this year, says Maiki Sherman, chair of the parliamentary press gallery. I think everyone in the media would agree that weve seen an increase in online abuse.

Some of that abuse was extreme, she says. The protesters gathered outside parliament this week were fond of telling journalists that they would soon be put on trial and killed for treason. Just got told Im going to be executed by a woman holding a sign saying love is the cure, 1 News reporter Kristin Hall remarked on Twitter on Wednesday.

Reporters have thick skins, were used to dealing with confrontation, its part of the job. But its escalating to a point where there is real concern, given the types of threats that are being made, Sherman says.

The increase in abuse, Sherman says, was not exclusively the domain of anti-government or anti-vaccine factions heated jibes were coming in from across the political spectrum.

A huge part of it is to do with the pandemic and vaccinations. But I think also in general, there has been a slow growth over the last few years and over the last two decades, with social media growing itself, and so people have more and more been given this tool to have a voice.

Researchers have found that Mori women were more likely to be subjected to abusive comments a dynamic Sherman had observed. I have noticed it targeted at other Mori woman, certainly.

Accounts of abuse recorded by the commission were not restricted to one side of the vaccination debate. Some complaints, Hunt says, were from people who had mask exemptions due to disability, and were shouted at by members of the public who perceived their lack of a mask as indication of a broader anti-health-regulation stance. Simultaneously, an increasing number of frontline workers tasked with enforcing vaccine passes or masks were subject to abuse from customers who refused to comply.

He speculated whether sharpening rhetoric was driven by some deeper fissures that emerged as the countrys policies have shifted to emphasise greater freedoms for the vaccinated.

Before, we were all in the same boat. Now, actually, were not in the same boat. Were not being treated the same. Now, I think [the policy] is warranted, Im not against it but there is this new dimension and weve got to deal with it properly.

A publicity campaign would not be sufficient to calm some of the uglier elements of the national conversation, Hunt says, but there was hope it would help.

Of course, its a very complicated picture. Were not suggesting our campaign is going to solve it these things are complicated and they require multi dimensional responses. But we thought this campaign had a role to play.

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What would your mother say? New Zealand urges citizens to wind back online rage - The Guardian

Exotic parrots are on a non-stop flight to becoming a menace in New Zealand, as pet owners release hundreds of them into the wild each year and, in doing so, put the survival of native birds at risk.

Roughly 6% of New Zealanders own pet birds and an average of 331 of the animals are lost each year; 92% of these are exotic parrots, mostly in the Auckland region, according to the University of Auckland.

The numbers are conservative because scientists rely heavily on bird-owners reporting that they have lost their parrot, the universitys associate professor in biological studies, Dr Margaret Stanley, said. In some cases, people would not report it online, and in other cases, they were deliberately releasing them, she said.

She has run simulations on the probability of pet parrots of the same species being found in the wild together, which would give them an opportunity to breed and eventually compete for the same food and nest space as native birds.

We looked at all the details on survivorship and lifespan for these species, and what we found was that for the seven species that we modelled, it was more than an 80% chance that a male-female pair were at large in the same local board area, at any given time. That was actually 100% for the Indian ring-necked parakeet and the Alexandrine parakeet even worse, because we know these two species can hybridise.

The parrots also run the risk of introducing diseases, which is bad news for the 40% of New Zealands birds already considered endangered. Once theyre breeding, its very, very hard to eradicate or control them, Stanley said.

Auckland Councils biosecurity principal biosecurity adviser Dr Imogen Bassett said the results do not surprise her.

We do see regular reports of parrots on lost and found pages on websites, and we get people calling council saying theyve seen parrots, so theyre definitely out there. I think people generally underestimate the extent to which they are around.

From 1 September, Aucklanders will be banned from breeding and selling a number of exotic parrots, including monk parakeets, ringneck parakeets, and rainbow lorikeets, under the citys pest management plan.

They have a massive track record of being invasive in dozens of countries and posing a real problem, Bassett said. Thats why research like Margarets is particularly concerning because it does really highlight the depressing risk we have of joining all those other countries.

Thats riled some owners and breeders in Auckland, but Bassett said council will consult further, before considering regulation against some parrot species that are already common in the environment, including eastern rosellas.

The horse has already bolted [for rosellas], so the ones we are most concerned about are those that we dont already have wild populations of.

Bassett says New Zealand has the opportunity to stamp out a parrot invasion now, unlike when possums, rats, rabbits and other pests were introduced to the country in the 19th century. Now 150 years later, were picking up the pieces of that very expensive and messy problem. We know with biosecurity that prevention is better than cure.

Stanley added that it cannot be just a regional approach, there must be a nationwide ban. At the moment you can buy one on TradeMe from Hamilton and get it sent to Auckland, and breeders are talking about moving out of Auckland to set up shop.

[Regulation] is a little bit toothless if its not nationwide.

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Escaped pet parrots pose real problem to native New Zealand birds - The Guardian

The Indian team has been grouped along with England, New Zealand and China in pool B in the upcoming FIH Women's Hockey World Cup. The tournament will be held in Spain and Netherlands from July 1.

The Indian team recently secured its qualification for the World Cup after finishing third in the Asia Cup in Muscat.

Speaking about competition in their pool, India goalkeeper Savita said, "It is a tough pool with England (world no. 3) and New Zealand (world no. 8) who are ranked above us and China can always spring a surprise.

"As a team, we have always believed we need to focus on ourselves and not what the opponent can do. But now that we know who we play in the pool stage, we can plan our preparations accordingly and we look forward to the challenge." The Indian women's team achieved a best-ever fourth place finish at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

The team also made it to the top eight for the first time in the previous edition of the World Cup when they drew 1-1 with England, lost 0-1 to Ireland, who went on to play the final against world champions Netherlands, and drew 1-1 against USA in the group stage.

"It was a very good tournament for us and it inculcated a great sense of self-belief. Draw against England in their home ground was quite significant for us in 2018 and we came very close to beating Ireland in the quarterfinal but ended up losing in the shootout after a 0-0 draw," Savita said.

The senior player said the team is better prepared this time. "With the experience we have had over the past three-four years, particularly in big events like the Olympic Games in Tokyo, I feel we are better prepared mentally to do well this time at the World Cup."

Savita further emphasised that the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League matches will help them prepare well in the lead-up to the prestigious quadrennial event.

"We will play England at home in the Pro League matches in April and we have already played China. I believe playing other top teams of the world like Belgium, Argentina will definitely benefit us in our preparations for the World Cup," she said.

Netherlands are grouped in pool A with Germany, Ireland and Chile. In pool C, hosts Spain will face off against Argentina, Korea and Canada and in pool D, Australia, Belgium, Japan and South Africa will take on each other.

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FIH Women's World Cup: India grouped with England, New Zealand and China - ESPN

After their struggles so far in the tour, India will hope to pick themselves up and put up a much better fight in what is now a must-win clash in the third One-Day International against New Zealand.

The India women's cricket team haven't had it easy since arriving in New Zealand, losing the one-off Twenty20 International before suffering back-to-back losses at the start of the ODI series. After their 62-run defeat in the opener, India fought back harder, this time putting 270 on the board after opting to bat with skipper Mithali Raj and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh scoring 60s, while rookie opener S Meghana scoring 49.

Despite reducing the White Ferns to 55/3 at one stage, Amelia Kerr was able to revive the chase with a 127-run fourth-wicket stand and finish the game from there with an unbeaten 119 for the hosts to go 2-0 up in the series, crossing the finish line with an over to spare. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the Indian bowlers with her haul of 4/52.

India women vs New Zealand Women 3rd ODI Live Streaming, Date and Timing in India

The current one-day series serves as an ideal platform for the Indian team to acclimatise themselves to the conditions in New Zealand, which will be hosting the ICC Women's World Cup that begins three days after the fifth and final ODI. New Zealand host Pakistan in their first warm-up game while India meet South Africa the same day in a practice match.

The tournament proper begins on 4 March, with New Zealand welcoming West Indies, while India lock horns against arch-rivals Pakistan on 6 March.

Here's everything you need to know as far as the live coverage of the third ODI is concerned:

When will the third ODI between India women and New Zealand women take place?

The third ODI between India women and New Zealand women will take place on 18 February, 2022

What is the venue for the match?

The venue for the India women vs New Zealand women third ODI is John Davies Oval, Queenstown.

When will the match start?

The match is scheduled to begin at 3.30 am IST, with the toss at 3 am.

Which TV channels will broadcast the match?

There will be no LIVE telecast of the match on TV. The match can be LIVE streamed on Amazon Prime Video. You can also browse Firstpost.com for live updates.

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India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI Live Streaming: When a.. Ind women vs NZ Women Live Coverage on Live TV Online - Firstpost

Silver Lake has reached a deal to invest up to $200 million into New Zealand Rugby, which runs the internationally famous All Blacks team as well as domestic leagues. The private equity firm will own up to 8.6% of a new entity that will house all the New Zealand Rugby assets, according to a release from the parties Wednesday afternoon.

The deal comes in two parts. First, Silver Lake invests $134 million (NZD$200) up front into the new business housing New Zealand rugbys revenue-generating properties at a valuation of $2.4 billion. The cash infusion buys Silver Lake a perpetual convertible note, which can be turned into equity by Silver Lake in three years time. Later on this year, Silver Lake will underwrite an offering for New Zealand-based institutional investors of $42 million to $67 million, with the California-based investment firm potentially buying the entire offering depending on domestic investor demand.

At the end of the process, Silver Lake will own at least 5.7% of New Zealand Rugby and as much as 8.6%, which is less than the previously discussed 10% to 15%. The deal has been in the works for close to a year, with New Zealanders wary of allowing U.S. investors into the countrys rugby organization. The New Zealand Rugby Board and the players association have approved the deal. It still needs sign-off from the countrys provincial rugby unions and the Maori Rugby Board.

This is a pivotal moment for rugby in New Zealand, said players association chairman David Kirk, in the release. The agreement provides capital on a sound economic basis and Silver Lake brings additional capability to execute on the new growth opportunities. The proposed investment by New Zealand institutions provides an opportunity and natural pathway for New Zealanders to share in the growth of rugby over time. New Zealand Rugby will retain control over rugby and commercial strategy under the pact.

The rugby organization and players union also gain a stake in a new Global Rugby Opportunities fund with Silver Lake that will invest in global rugby and rugby-related technology, earning the New Zealand entities a 15% cut of profits.

Digital technologies are transforming all sports, and we look forward to bringing our global network and resources to help New Zealand rugby drive innovation and take advantage of all the opportunities ahead, said Silver Lake managing director Stephen Evans.

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Silver Lake Buying Up to 8.6% of New Zealand All Blacks - Sportico

AUCKLAND, New Zealand--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Triton Digital, the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry, announced today the release of the latest New Zealand Podcast Ranker. The Ranker provides insight into the Top 100 Podcasts as well as the Top Networks in New Zealand from 1 January through 31 January, 2022, as measured by Tritons Podcast Metrics measurement service.

The Top 100 Podcast Ranker and Top Network Ranker are ranked by monthly listeners, in accordance with the latest IAB Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines.

For this reporting period, the top three podcasts include Casefile True Crime (Audioboom) climbing to the #1 spot, Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley on ZM (NZME/iHeartRadio), and Stuff You Should Know (NZME/iHeartRadio).

New podcasts debuting on the ranker this month include Crime Junkie (audiochuck) coming in at #5 on the Top 100 Podcasts, 2 Bears, 1 Cave with Tom Segura & Bert Kreischer (Stitcher Media), Its A Lot with Abbie Chatfield (LiSTNR (SCA)), Holiday Breakfast (NZME/iHeartRadio), Raising The Curve (MediaWorks Radio Limited), and more.

Participating networks in the New Zealand Ranker include Audioboom, Headgum, Kast Media, LiSTNR (SCA), MediaWorks Radio Limited, NZME/iHeartRadio, Stitcher Media and Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).

Last month, Triton Digital introduced the New Zealand Podcast Ranker website an enhanced and robust experience for New Zealand advertisers and agencies seeking podcast consumption insights.

To participate in the ranker, view the full results of the Ranker, and sign up to receive future rankers via email, please visit: https://www.tritondigital.com/resources/podcast-reports.

Triton Digitals Podcast Metrics measurement service is certified by the IAB Tech Lab as complying with Version 2.1 of the IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines. It provides accurate and insightful data around how, when, and where podcast content is being consumed across multiple hosting platforms, with the ability to view metrics by date range, location, device, podcast name, episode, title, and more.

About Triton DigitalTriton Digital is the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry. Operating in more than 80 countries, Triton provides innovative technology that enables broadcasters, podcasters, and online music services to build their audience, maximize their revenue, and streamline their day-to-day operations. In addition, Triton powers the global online audio industry with Webcast Metrics, the leading online audio measurement service and Podcast Metrics, one of the first IAB certified podcast measurement services in the industry. With unparalleled integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability, Triton remains committed to connecting audio, audience, and advertisers to continuously fuel the growth of the global online industry. For more information, visit http://www.TritonDigital.com.

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Triton Digital Releases the New Zealand Podcast Ranker For January 2022 - Business Wire

Kiwis who remain unvaccinated are about 12 times more likely to go to hospital with Omicron than people with two or more vaccine doses, new data suggests.

And they are 27 times more likely to end up in hospital compared with those who have had a third booster shot.

The data also comes with a warning for the 1.44 million New Zealanders overdue for a booster shot: overseas research suggests their protection against symptomatic Omicron infection has waned to about 30 per cent effectiveness.

READ MORE:* Boosters could be part of vaccine pass, but hospitality businesses worry about backlash* Covid-19: What does the red light setting actually do to combat the Omicron outbreak?* Covid-19: Will the vaccine protect me from Omicron?

Stuff has collated new cases and hospitalisations detected since late January to create a dataset made up predominantly of Omicron cases. As the outbreak grows, the data suggests who is more likely to experience severe outcomes.

Omicron is a less severe disease than either the Delta or original variants of Covid but can still result in hospitalisation or death.

Since January 27, there have been just under 5900 cases of Covid-19 detected in the 12+ population and 41 have so far needed hospital care.

While unvaccinated people only account for four per cent of those cases so far, they account for 34 per cent of hospitalisations.

For every 100,000 unvaccinated people, 5.3 have gone to hospital with Covid, compared to just 0.5 for every 100,000 double-dosed people.

The difference is even starker compared to those whove had a third vaccine dose.

The Health Ministry told Stuff fewer than five of those hospitalised with Covid had received a booster shot. It would not confirm the exact number, citing privacy reasons while case numbers were low.

Assuming the upper limit of four cases, the hospitalisation rate among the boosted population (1,959,875) is just 0.0002 per cent at the most two in a million.

Among diagnosed cases, the rate of hospitalisation treatment is again much higher for the unvaccinated. About 6.7 per cent of unvaccinated cases have needed hospital treatment compared to 0.5 per cent of people who are at least double-dosed.

Melbourne University epidemiologist Tony Blakely says the rates are naive rates they do not take into account age or the length of time since someone last had a dose of vaccine, which wanes over time.

But despite that morasse of possible combinations, the overall picture the data paints is in line with what has been observed elsewhere.

We know enough from other countries, including Australia, that the vaccine works, Blakely says.

Your chance of being hospitalised and even more so your chance of ending up in ICU, and even more so than that, your chance of dying, is much less if youre triple-vaccinated, recently, than if youre unvaccinated. The difference there is 35 to 50-fold in risk.

Someone who was unvaccinated was 34 times more likely to need ICU care than someone with three vaccine doses.

Stuffs data also revealed a more surprising statistic: the overall case rate for those who are at least double-dosed is now higher than for unvaccinated people.

For every 10,000 unvaccinated people, 7.9 have been diagnosed with Covid since late January. The rate for people with two or more doses is 11.7 cases per 10,000 population.

But there are multiple caveats on this data which mean it cannot be taken as an indication of the vaccine's effectiveness at preventing infection with Covid-19.

Many of the people still out and about under New Zealands red light control settings are younger age groups, who are less likely to be boosted yet and so will have rapidly waning immunity, Blakely says.

If youre only double-vaccinated the vaccines effectiveness [against symptomatic infection and hospitalisation] is about 70 per cent but it goes down quickly.

UK experts have also suggested vaccinated people may be more likely to get tested and that fully inoculated individuals behave differently for example they have greater access to cafes, bars and other close-contact settings.

Data from the most recent UK Health Security Agency Covid-19 monitoring report suggests that by 10 to 14 weeks after a second dose, the Pfizer vaccine only has about 30 per cent effectiveness against symptomatic Omicron infection, and 50 per cent effectiveness against hospitalisation (the effectiveness is better for Delta).

A booster raises effectiveness back up to about 70 per cent against symptomatic infection and 90 per cent against hospitalisation.

MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF

Wendy Low gives a booster vaccine to a person in Nelson.

Data from the Health Ministry does not split overall case numbers into those who have had only two doses and those who have had a booster, meaning there are no separate case rates for the boosted population.

[If] you only see two-plus doses in the data (not double separated from triple), then you will observe what you observe, Blakely says.

New Zealanders yet to receive their booster are not too late, he says.

Given youre still at the bottom of the [Omicron] mountain, theres still plenty of time. The more people that get boosted, the fewer people who go to hospital.

It was important to remember the risk of severe disease from Omicron is still low for young, fit and healthy people, Blakely says.

So the important focus for New Zealand as Omicron washes through society is that you protect the older people in society massively. You help them to hunker down.

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Covid-19: How does vaccination affect the chances of hospitalisation with the Omicron variant in New Zealand? - Stuff.co.nz

The new self-isolation rules for travellers to New Zealand have given us greater clarity on what our international journeys will look like.

Heres a step-by-step guide to planning a trip if youre fully vaccinated and eligible for self-isolation or wondering if you are.

CHRIS SKELTON/Stuff

Travellers will be able to get someone to pick them up at the airport if they cant get to their place of self-isolation on their own.

New Zealand is set to open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from all over the world in five stages in 2022. Unvaccinated Kiwis can also travel to the country, but will have to enter managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) upon arrival.

All fully vaccinated arrivals will be able to self-isolate from some point this year. The date you can self-isolate depends on which category you fall into.

READ MORE:* Government shares self-isolation rules for travellers* Border reopening: What you need to know about overseas travel* New Zealand border reopening: Your questions answered

New Zealand citizens, residents and other eligible travellers including partners and dependent children will be able to self-isolate from 11:59pm February 27 if they are travelling from Australia. Kiwis from other parts of the world can self-isolate from 11:59pm March 13, and temporary visa holders from 11:59pm April 12.

Self-isolation is set to be open to vaccinated travellers from Australia and visa-waiver countries from July at the latest, and from October at the latest for those with New Zealand visas of any kind.

Getty Images

Travellers will be given three rapid antigen tests at the airport to take home with them.

Unvaccinated children aged 16 and under can self-isolate either alone or with their vaccinated parents or guardians. You cannot self-isolate if you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, but you may be able to enter MIQ.

Book a flight to New Zealand and, if youre a New Zealander, register with SafeTravel, which can help you out if things go wrong while you are overseas.

You can self-isolate anywhere in New Zealand provided it has cellphone coverage, a landline or wi-fi so the Ministry of Health can get in touch with you if needed. You also need to be able to access a Covid-19 testing centre.

The Government strongly recommends self-isolating in standalone private accommodation such as a house or apartment where you and those you travelled with (your travel isolation bubble) will be alone.

If you self-isolate with family and friends, your travel bubble should keep your contact with them to a minimum and no one else should visit the household. Other household members do not have to self-isolate with you, meaning they are free to come and go. If anyone in the bubble tests positive for Covid-19, the whole household will have to self-isolate.

You can also self-isolate in a hotel, motel, university hostel or other form of sole-hosted accommodation such as Airbnb, Bachcare or Bookabach. Let the accommodation provider know you will be self-isolating when you book.

An official record of your Covid-19 vaccination status in New Zealand, My Vaccine Pass will enable you to access cafes, restaurants, pubs, tourism sites, events and other venues.

If you were vaccinated overseas, make sure you received a vaccination approved for My Vaccine Pass (these include Pfizer, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Moderna), and add your vaccination record to New Zealands Covid Immunisation Register (CIR). You will need to fill out an Overseas Vaccination Submission Form and supply evidence of your vaccinations.

Complete the Ministry of Healths online traveller declaration before you leave for New Zealand. Youll need your flight details, contact information, and information about where youre self-isolating.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

Most travellers to New Zealand need a negative Covid-19 pre-departure test.

Most travellers need a negative Covid-19 pre-departure test to enter the country.

From February 28, most travellers entering self-isolation or MIQ will be able to choose from three options: a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before departure, a supervised rapid antigen test (RAT) taken within 24 hours of departure, or a supervised loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test taken within 24 hours of departure.

Before then, only PCR tests are accepted, unless you are from one of 105 specified places where getting a test is difficult or impossible. You can find the full list of these places here.

If you cant take a test for medical reasons, you need a medical certificate stating this 48 hours before your flight.

Make sure you have your passport, visa (if applicable), boarding pass, completed traveller declaration, evidence of your vaccination status, and a negative pre-departure test result.

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You should wear a mask on-board, other than when eating or drinking.

Keep your face mask on throughout your flight, except when eating or drinking. Experts recommend wearing a N95 or other high-quality mask on board, and removing your mask to eat or drink only when those beside you have replaced their own masks.

Customs will verify you meet New Zealands entry requirements. Once through, youll be given a welcome pack containing three RAT kits and a guide to self-isolation and testing.

Initially, arrivals must self-isolate for seven days. You cannot stay in New Zealand for a shorter amount of time as you must self-isolate for the full seven days.

Getting to your destination: You must travel to your place of self-isolation as quickly and directly as possible. The Government recommends using private transport, but you can catch a domestic flight, ferry or other forms of public transport if need be. You can also catch a taxi or ride-share.

If someone is picking you up, you should both wear a face mask for the whole journey and sit as far apart as you can. Open the windows if possible to increase ventilation. Dont stop to visit people on the way or visit a shop of any kind, including a supermarket or grocery stores. If you must stop for petrol, visit a contactless gas station.

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You can catch a domestic flight to your destination if need be.

If youre delayed in getting to your destination, you can stay in a temporary location if needed, but you must self-isolate while there.

Staying with others: If youre self-isolating with family or friends, wear a face mask when you are in shared spaces and keep two metres away from them at all times. Do not share a bedroom with them if possible, and minimise the time spent together in shared spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms. Open windows to keep the place well ventilated.

Getting tested: Youll need to use two of the RATs you were given at the airport: the first on day zero/one and the second on day five/six. The third is a backup test. Babies under six months old do not need to test.

The instructions you received at the airport will tell you how to interpret your results, and youll need to report them via an email survey whatever they are. If your test is negative, continue to monitor yourself for symptoms. If its positive, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 and tell them you have been overseas within the past seven days, returned a positive result, and need to arrange a PCR test. You cannot catch public transport to be tested. Let Healthline know if this is a problem. If your test is invalid, you will also need to call Healthline and organise a PCR test.

Leaving self-isolation for short periods: You can leave your place of self-isolation in very limited circumstances. Acceptable reasons are to go to a testing centre, get urgent or medical care, attend court or another judicial institution, visit a dying relative who is not expected to live beyond your period of self-isolation, or visit the body of a relative before a funeral or tangihanga. You can also leave if there is an emergency that makes it unsafe for you to remain there.

Ross Giblin

You can exercise near the place youre self-isolating if it has no outdoor area, but you must wear a mask and keep at least two metres away from others.

Visits need to be agreed to by the organisation concerned (such as the hospital or funeral home) in advance. You should use your backup RAT and return a negative result before heading out.

Exercise: You should exercise on the property of the place youre self-isolating, but you can exercise nearby if there is no outdoor space such as a backyard, and you wont come into contact with many people. Avoid shared spaces such as gyms and playgrounds, wear a face mask the entire time, and keep at least two metres away from anyone outside your travel bubble.

Getting food and other supplies: You must not leave to get food or other supplies. Arrange for contactless delivery, or ask the relatives or friends youre self-isolating with to get them for you. You can find your local food bank on the Family Services Directory website.

If you develop Covid symptoms: Call Healthline on 0800 358 5455 or +64 9 358 5453 if you have an international SIM card. If you have a doctor in New Zealand, you could call them instead.

Completing self-isolation: You are free to go when your seven days are up, you have returned negative results for all required tests, and you do not have any Covid symptoms.

For the seven days after self-isolation, you should avoid visiting anyone who may be vulnerable to Covid along with rest homes and large gatherings such as weddings, funerals and tangi.

Make sure you download the NZ COVID Tracer app for contact tracing purposes before leaving self-isolation, and familiarise yourself with what is and isnt allowed at the traffic light setting of the Covid-19 Protection Framework in your area.

Read the rest here:

How to travel to New Zealand with the new self-isolation rules - Stuff.co.nz