Category Archives: New Zealand

WELLINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand said on Wednesday it will put a virtual halt to the practice of taking at-risk children away from their families, a care policy that has long angered its indigenous Maori community.

Children deemed to be facing harm have been moved into state care for decades despite Maori criticism that the process is racially skewed and a legacy of colonisation. A vast majority of the children taken, a process known locally as uplifting, are Maori.

Thousands of Maori took to the streets in 2019 in protest after media reports that the children's ministry tried to take a newnew-born baby away from her mother in hospital.

Children's Minister Kelvin Davis said on Wednesday the government has accepted all recommendations of a ministerial advisory board on how to fix the child care and the protection system. The ministry had been told that removing children should be used only as a last resort.

"This report will end uplifts as we have known them," Davis said in a statement, adding that future efforts would focus on community-led prevention.

In 2019-2020, 1,334 children entered state care, according to documents on the ministry's website, of which about 60% were Maori.

Maori have called children taken into state care as New Zealand's "stolen generation" - a reference to indigenous Australians forcibly taken from their families as children under an official policy of assimilation.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, seen as a global figure on issues of woman's rights and social justice, launched a Royal Commission of Inquiry in 2018 into the abuse of young people in state care, saying the country needed to confront "a dark chapter" in its history.

The inquiry revealed in December that up to a quarter of a million children, young people and vulnerable adults were physically and sexually abused in faith-based and state care institutions from the 1960s to the early 2000s. read more

Reporting by Praveen Menon; editing by Richard Pullin

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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New Zealand to halt removal of 'at risk' children from families - Reuters

News

NZ coach feels "there are six-seven teams that could win this tournament"

Having won the inaugural World Test Championship earlier in June, New Zealand now have the rare chance to win another world title in the same year as they prepare for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE. Head coach Gary Stead said that New Zealand aren't distracted by that prospect and that their main focus is to first qualify for the semi-finals.

"Every tournament you go in, you go in with high hopes, hope to win games and put yourself in a position to achieve that," Stead said during a virtual media interaction after arriving in the UAE. "I guess our first one is focusing on one game at a time, but the main goal is to get to that semi-finals stage and if you're there, you'll know that you're only two wins away from a title. We're in a tough pool, I genuinely think there are six-seven teams that could win this tournament, and I guess that's good for world cricket as well."

New Zealand are placed in Group A, which also includes former champions India and Pakistan. They will first run into Pakistan in Sharjah on October 26 and there could potentially be some tension around the clash after New Zealand recently called off their limited-overs tour of Pakistan, citing security concerns. Newly appointed PCB chairman Ramiz Raja was particularly critical of New Zealand's abrupt pullout, promising to avenge the cancellation when Pakistan face them at the World Cup.

Stead, however, downplayed the chatter around the game. "I'm not sure if there's any more tension on it from our perspective," he said. "Obviously, what happened in Pakistan was sad for Pakistan cricket, their players and also our players who missed out on that opportunity as well. We can't change what has happened there; all we can do is, I guess, prepare for the tournament, and we face Pakistan first up. I'm sure it will be an exciting game. We've always had good games with Pakistan cricket and this one will be no different."

Stead said that New Zealand are also wary of the challenging conditions they could face in the UAE. They will play two games in Sharjah, where pitches have become sluggish after being relaid and as many in Dubai, where tracks have slowed down at the fag end of this IPL, before rounding off their league stage with the match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. It helps New Zealand that ten players in their World Cup squad are currently part of the IPL in the UAE and the likes of Martin Guptill and Ish Sodhi, who had arrived in the UAE earlier from Pakistan, have been training with Thilan Samaraweera.

"We've taken it [mental health] very seriously and tried to be upfront with our players and stuff around how we sit with it."

Gary Stead, NZ head coach

"I've watched a fair bit of the IPL," Stead said. "It looks like there are three different surfaces and even as the tournament progresses, there seems to be the odd bit of rogue score - a very high-scoring game in Abu Dhabi, where 190 got chased down but the norm has been anywhere between 120 through to 150 mark. With the three grounds, I guess, they will provide different options and opportunities that we need to consider as well. We will certainly be calling on the expertise of and knowledge of those guys that have been playing in the IPL - what they can add to our intel as well."

Stead stressed that the mental well-being of the players and staff is something that is of utmost priority for New Zealand. Stead, the rest of the support staff, and wicketkeeper-batter Devon Conway are currently in isolation for six days before they could head out and train.

"We've taken it [mental health] very seriously and tried to be upfront with our players and stuff around how we sit with it," Stead said. "We've also brought John Quinn with us to look after the well-being of our staff and players who are over here at the World Cup and then John will go home and will be replaced by Rod Corbin - they are guys within our mental skills network of providers back home. Those guys are there just to make sure they are checking in with all our players and staff and making sure we are taking that really, really seriously as well.

"When you sit in a room for long periods of time, it's not always that easy. It's perhaps a novelty for the first day or two, but then when you look at the same four walls time and time again, it can be difficult. That's, I guess, the world we live in at the moment, but also understanding that we're in a privileged position of being able to tour around the world as well and play these World Cups, which is still exciting for us."

As part of New Zealand's plans to rotate players and even staff over the winter, Stead himself was given a break for the tours to Bangladesh and Pakistan, with Wellington Firebirds head coach Glenn Pocknall standing in for him. Stead was pleased with the progress of the fringe players who stepped up in spin-friendly conditions and ran a near-full-strength Bangladesh side close before eventually losing the series 3-2.

"It was definitely a different experience [watching the Bangladesh tour from the outside]," Stead said. "I'm really proud of the way the guys played over there. That was a relatively inexperienced Black Caps team that went over there when you consider what we normally had and to be able to take two games off a real quality side was encouraging, and to be in the running for all five matches was also very encouraging. So pleased with the development of the team there. We've planned out well in advance because of the well-being aspect of all our players and this was going to be the way we would tour for the winter. I guess, no surprises from our sense of how it's playing out."

Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Gary Stead on T20 WC: Main goal is to get to the semi-finals - ESPNcricinfo

Lauren Anne Dickason was arrested and charged with murdering her three daughters, and appeared in court on Saturday morning.Video / George Heard

A woman charged with murdering her three young daughters at their Timaru home has been excused from today's court appearance as her mental health assessments continue.

A trial date has been set but she is yet to enter a plea.

Lauren Anne Dickason, 40, was charged with murdering her three daughters - Lian, 6, and twin sisters Maya and Karla, 2.

She first appeared in the Timaru District Court on September 18, two days after allegedly murdering the children.

The specific details of the alleged murder have been suppressed.

Dickason was remanded in custody to a forensic psychiatric ward at Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch.

There, she underwent a mental health assessment ahead of her first appearance in the High Court today.

Dickason's appearance in person this morning before Justice Rachel Dunningham was excused.

She was due to appear via an audio visual link from Hillmorton Hospital but the court heard more time was needed for her health assessment.

The case is being heard in the High Court at Timaru but the hearing itself was today facilitated from the Christchurch Justice Precinct.

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Dickason's lawyer Kerryn Beaton QC sought a further remand for the alleged killer at Hillmorton Hospital.

A forensic psychiatrist has been booked to assess her further this weekend.

A trial date for March 2023 was set, even though no pleas have been entered at this stage.

Dickason's case will be called again on October 15.

The Dickason family arrived in Timaru just a week before the children died on September 16.

They moved here from Pretoria in South Africa and spent their mandatory time in managed isolation before they were released to start their new life.

Graham Dickason is an orthopedic surgeon and had a job with the South Canterbury District Health Board.

It is understood he had been at a work function with colleagues and arrived home to find the grisly scene.

A neighbour told the Herald the morning after the alleged murders that she heard the sounds of sobbing and moaning at about 9.40pm.

Another neighbour found the distressed father and called 111.

Police then converged on the house.

Lauren Dickason was unresponsive and in a critical condition when her husband arrived home.

She was taken to Timaru Hospital for treatment and was stable enough by Friday night to speak with police.

She was charged with murder soon after.

Lauren Dickason is also a doctor who worked in the orthopedic area.

A week after the alleged murders, a vigil was outside the house by members of the community.

The event was in memory of the girls and to show the Dickason family support and love.

Hundreds of people attended and words by Graham Dickason, his parents and his in-laws were read.

A similar event was held simultaneously in Pretoria.

The message penned by Graham Dickason was the first the public had heard from the family since the tragedy unfolded.

"It is a loss I will carry with me for the rest of my life my words are few," he said of the deaths of his "precious angels".

"In this time of terrible tragedy and adversity I can only ask for prayer for strength and for healing.

"Please also pray for my lovely Lauren for I honestly believe she is a victim in this as well.

"I have already forgiven her and I urge you in your own time to do the same it is the key to healing this loss we have all experienced."

Family in Pretoria shared details of a second memorial they held last week.

They spent time at a local park where they had put up huge photos of the slain sisters along with descriptions of them.

"A beautiful little girl inside and out. You were such a chatterbox with an infectious laugh," Lian's read.

"You loved cuddles, you enjoyed baking - even though you ate a lot of the mixture before it was baked.

"You were so creative and loved your stickers and sparkles.

"You were kind and always cared deeply for those around you.

"You were a loving sister with a soft heart."

Karla was born with a cleft lip and her grandparents said last week she did not have the best start in life - but she overcame that and was brave and an explorer.

At the family service she was described as "a beautiful little girl who was feisty, independent and strong".

"Yet, kind and caring," her photo caption read.

"You loved a cuddle and loved early mornings.

"Your smile left an impact on each person that met you.

"You were such a cheerful and happy little soul, your little personality was contagious."

Maya was remembered as "a beautiful gentle little girl who was always smiling".

"And a real little charmer who knew just what look to give us to get one more sweetie.

"Playful to the core, so happy and cheerful - you loved tea parties and perfected the pinkie finger ."

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:

LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 or 09 5222 999 within Auckland (available 24/7) SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7) YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633 ,free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat. NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7) KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7) WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm) DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757 SAMARITANS 0800 726 666.

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Timaru tragedy: Murder-accused mum Lauren Dickason back in court after tragic death of three daughters - New Zealand Herald

A sizeable audience at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre was treated to a performance central to New Zealands national identity the Kapa Haka

For most, the ceremonial Maori war dance is performed before each All Blacks rugby game and is intended as a challenge to the opposition and rousing rally for players before heading into battle on the pitch.

For New Zealanders, it is part of their national identity, creating meaningful connections within communities, other nations and people.

Those lucky enough to witness the performance of UAE-based Kapa Haka group Ngati Koraha at the amphitheatre in the Al Forsan district were treated to a rousing performance of compositions, chants, choral singing and graceful action songs.

For those who missed it, there are plans to have further Kapa Haka performances in November as well as on New Zealands national day, on January 31.

Updated: October 4th 2021, 4:02 PM

Read more from the original source:

New Zealand Maoris Kapa Haka wows audience at Expo - The National

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Te Raekura Redcliffs School in Christchurch won the Supreme Award at the New Zealand Commercial Project 2021 Awards.

For almost a decade the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards have celebrated teamwork, collaboration, and outstanding buildings in the commercial construction sector.

With entries now open for the 2022 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards all architects, building owners, designers, engineers, and contractors are being called on to enter.

The NZ Commercial Project Awards is the only competition of its type in New Zealand. "The awards are a moment for us to celebrate and acknowledge the project teams and partners behind New Zealand's best commercial buildings," says Master Builder's president, Kerry Archer.

In its 10th year of the competition, the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards are proudly owned by Registered Master Builders yet you don't need to be a Master Builder to enter. The competition is open to all New Zealand based commercial construction project partners.

"The awards are designed to shine a light on New Zealand's buildings and the skilled teams behind them," explains Archer. "Commercial buildings play a big part in our lives - from apartments, to schools, offices, hospitals, libraries and entertainment facilities. The way these buildings are designed and built make a difference to every New Zealander. This is reflected in the vast range of New Zealand's buildings and projects that are entered into the 10 different award categories."

"The awards have something for everyone, both big and small. To address the misconception that commercial just means large and high value, this year we have expanded the Value Awards to include smaller value projects which are just as important to our communities," says Archer.

"These changes will allow smaller contractors to showcase their local projects to national clients who operate all around New Zealand, as well as celebrating the very best of our larger builds.

"The awards recognise the project team's collaboration, innovation, quality and how they overcame challenges of the project together. It is not about the size of the project or the size of the budget."

All entries are judged by a small but accomplished panel of judges - a commercial contractor and one other experienced member of the construction industry.

NZ Commercial Project Award judge and architect, Rod Macdiarmid says it was pleasing to see last year's competition entries have a focus on both managing carbon emissions and improving site safety. "Companies are putting in more effort to measure and manage their own emissions across all operations, even vehicle fleets. It is also positive to see waste management becoming a normal practise with a greater focus on waste separation."

The judges were also impressed by the focus of the project teams on on-site safety, crediting much of this down to new technology.

"A key development we noticed was the use of apps to record near-miss incidents. This technology means the record can be anonymised, taking away the fear that can come with reporting incidents. We hope to see these trends continue to grow in this year's entries," says Macdiarmid.

The Awards are made possible through the support of Altus Window Systems, CARTERS, Construction Marketing Services, GIB, and Resene.

Entries are now open.For more information about the competition and to enter visit commercialprojectawards.co.nz.

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Be part of New Zealand's best commercial builds - Stuff.co.nz

Business

5 Oct, 2021 04:40 AM2 minutes to read

The deal will add over 21,000 KiwiSaver and Master Trust members to Fisher Funds' portfolio. Photo / NZME

TSB-owned Fisher Funds has acquired Aon New Zealand's superannuation business, which includes its KiwiSaver scheme and Master Trust businesses.

The deal will add over 21,000 KiwiSaver and Master Trust members and approximately $1 billion to Fisher Funds' existing $14.5b portfolio.

Bruce McLachlan, chief executive of Fisher Funds, said the acquisition is a natural progression of Fisher Funds growth plans in funds management in New Zealand.

"This is an exciting moment for Fisher Funds and will further strengthen our position as one of New Zealand's leading independent active funds management businesses," he said.

"The Aon New Zealand KiwiSaver Scheme and Master Trust businesses particularly appealed to us due to their clients affinity for high quality active management investment solutions. This aligns with Fisher Funds ethos of delivering outstanding client outcomes.

"Our priority is now on working closely with Aon to ensure a seamless transition for all members and clients involved."

The transaction is due to complete at the end of November 2021.

"Once the transition is complete all Aon members and clients will benefit from full access to Fisher Funds active investment team, online platforms, and award-winning client services team. There will be no impact on our existing Fisher Funds clients," McLachlan said.

McLachlan confirmed that all Aon New Zealand KiwiSaver Scheme and Master Trust employees would be offered roles at Fisher Funds.

"We look forward to them becoming valued members of our team," he said.

Until the transaction completes, each business will continue to operate separately with no changes for members.

See more here:

Fisher Funds acquires Aon New Zealand's KiwiSaver scheme and Master Trust businesses - New Zealand Herald

Firdia Lisnawati/AP

Indonesia plans to reopen the airport in the resort island of Bali to several countries, including South Korea, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

Indonesia plans to reopen the airport in the resort island of Bali for international flights on October 14, after closing it for more than a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday the airport will open to international flights as long as it fulfils requirements for quarantine and testing.

International arrivals must show proof of hotel bookings for a mandatory eight-day quarantine.

READ MORE:* Bali could be open to foreigners by end of July* Foreign tourists to be locked out of Bali until 2021 * Coronavirus: Bali begins to reopen after 3-month lockdown

We are open to several countries, including South Korea, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand, Pandjaitan said.

Indonesia, the worlds fourth-most populous country, has recorded more than 4.2 million Covid-19 cases with 142,261 deaths, but infections have decreased in the last few weeks after peaking in mid-July.

Tourism and Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said Bali's reopening will focus on travellers and returning expatriates who used to live in Bali.

The government is still finalising some steps including lists of countries with direct flights to Bali.

The most important priority is the safety of the Indonesian people in terms of health and being protected from the potential spike in new cases of Covid-19, Uno said.

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Indonesia to reopen Bali to several international flights, including New Zealand - Stuff.co.nz

The Government will require all non-New Zealand citizens to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 before entering the country, from November 1.

Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins on Sunday afternoon announced the Government would place the requirement on any traveller to New Zealand who is aged over 17 years, and is not a New Zealand citizen.

Fully vaccinated travellers will still need to spend two weeks in a managed isolation facility upon entry to New Zealand. The requirement that most travellers obtain a negative Covid test 72 hours prior to departure will also remain.

Most people coming to New Zealand tell us they are already vaccinated. This requirement makes it formal and will provide an extra layer of protection at the border, Hipkins said in a statement.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff

The Government says it willl require non-NZ citizens to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 to enter the country.

READ MORE:* Government will require non-NZ citizens to have Covid vaccine before entering New Zealand* 'No vaccine, no flying': Airline passengers should be vaccinated, experts say* Covid-19: No new community cases, over 46,000 more vaccinations as Fiji and Indonesia added to 'high-risk' list

Even a single case presents a risk. However, high and wide-spread vaccination rates will mean more freedoms, fewer restrictions, and the day-to-day confidence that protection from the virus brings.

Air New Zealand, early on Sunday, said it would be introducing a no jab, no fly policy for international travellers, that would come into effect on February 1, 2022.

The national air carriers policy would apply to travellers aged 18 or over, and will apply to both inbound and outbound flights.

Hipkins said the Government's new requirement will work well alongside the announcement today that everyone on board an Air New Zealand aircraft travelling internationally will need to be fully vaccinated.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.

He said people entering New Zealand will need to provide proof of vaccination or a relevant exemption to both the airline and Customs officers once they land in the country. They will also need to declare their vaccination status when they enter the managed isolation and quarantine system.

This requirement will be an interim measure while development continues on the traveller health declaration system, which will introduce the ability to digitally verify the vaccination status of people arriving into New Zealand, Hipkins said.

The Government would legislate to make the requirement law. If a person fails to provide proof of vaccination they may be fined $4000.

RSE workers headed to New Zealand in a quarantine-free travel scheme will be exempt from the requirement, as will refugees.

There would also be an ability for people to seek exemptions from the requirement on humanitarian grounds, or in cases where a person had no opportunity to get the vaccine.

Continued here:

Government will require non-NZ citizens to have Covid vaccine before entering New Zealand - Stuff.co.nz

Within two minutes, New Zealand and South Africa are into their stride and establishing their traditional attributes. What was so special about this contest, though, was how they both pushed one another beyond those strengths.

Transition has become a buzzword to describe a broken-field situation that arises from a change in possession. South Africas first try arrived from a particularly chaotic double transition.

Ardie Savea forces a clever turnover as an upright tackle on Kolisi collapses in front of him. New Zealand switch from defence to attack and attempt to capitalise by spreading the ball across their own 22.

But South Africas transition from attack to defence is sharp, too. Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am press and Taylor cannot control David Havilis pass. The spill is costly:

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Inside Line: Another epic contest between South Africa and New Zealand shows why rivalry is so precious - Telegraph.co.uk

New Zealand has fallen from number one to 38 on a global ranking of the best places to be in a world grappling with the extra-infectious Delta strain of Covid-19.

New Zealand claimed the top spot on Bloombergs first Covid Resilience Ranking in November 2020 but has fallen behind nations in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and other parts of Asia-Pacific as it battles to contain the Auckland outbreak, strives to boost vaccine uptake, and retains strict border controls.

Bloomberg

NZ has experienced a dramatic drop on the Covid Resilience Ranking, while Ireland has done the opposite.

No. 1 at the rankings inception last November, New Zealand fell nine spots from August to No. 38, the media and financial giant said. A Delta incursion after months virus-free has left the country in varying degrees of lockdown, still seeking to stamp out infections as it strives to boost vaccination levels.

Forty-two days into Aucklands lockdown, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced a spike in cases in New Zealands biggest city, saying these were expected. Of the 45 new community cases, 12 are unlinked to existing cases.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: 45 new cases in Delta community outbreak, highest number in three weeks* Ireland and Covid-19: More than 1000 cases every day but normality looms * Covid-19 NZ: How viable is New Zealands coronavirus elimination plan in the time of Delta?

Ireland, which has a similar sized population to New Zealand, has taken the opposite trajectory, climbing from about 40 in early January when it had the worst rate of infection in the world to number one on the list.

As Stuffs explainer editor Keith Lynch wrote in a recent article on Irelands handling of the virus, the country has been hard hit by the pandemic, recording more than 370,000 cases and more than 5000 deaths.

David White/Stuff

New Zealands handling of the Auckland outbreak has contributed to its fall in the ranking.

With some 90 per cent of its population aged 18 and over now vaccinated, however, it has become what the Financial Times described in August as a vaccine poster child. Despite the arrival of the Delta variant, Ireland has continued to ease restrictions in an effort to return to relative normality but is taking a cautious approach to reopening to the rest of the world.

Bloomberg attributed Irelands startling turnaround in part to a Europe-wide strategy involving limiting quarantine-free to people who were fully vaccinated or who had proved they have recovered from the virus. It also commended the country for boosting vaccination levels by bestowing more domestic freedoms on the inoculated while allowing social activity to resume safely.

Bloomberg

NZ has experienced a dramatic drop in Bloomberg's Covid Resilience Ranking.

Bloombergs Covid Resilience Ranking is designed to provide a monthly snapshot of which of the worlds 53 biggest economies are handling the virus best, with the least social and economic upheaval. Factors taken into consideration include virus containment, healthcare quality, vaccination coverage, overall mortality, GDP (gross domestic product) growth forecast, and progress towards easing border restrictions and restarting travel.

New Zealands resilience score of 59.6 per cent reflected its relatively low vaccination rate (44 per cent of the eligible population were fully vaccinated as of September 28), lockdown severity and closed borders, among other factors. New Zealand and Malaysia were judged to have the strictest lockdowns of all 53 economies on the list.

The top five economies on the ranking were all in Europe, with Spain, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark trailing Ireland, while the United Arab Emirates, where more than 92 per cent of the population is vaccinated, came in at number six. France, Switzerland, Canada and Norway, which recently scrapped most remaining Covid-related restrictions, rounded out the top 10.

New Zealand, now in the bottom half of the ranking, was one of several Asia-Pacific nations to drop down, with Bloomberg saying the region is faltering in the era of vaccination.

123 rf

Spain came in at number two on the resilience ranking, trailing Ireland and just ahead of the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark.

Not only are their strict measures less effective in the face of Delta, former top rankers in the region are also grappling with how to reopen after such a long period of isolationist border curbs.

Singapore, which is moving towards a vaccine-led reopening, fell 11 places since the last ranking as a surge in cases saw some restrictions reimposed, while Hong Kong dropped two spots. Australia fell three places to number 34. Mainland China, by contrast, where more than 78 per cent of people are vaccinated, moved up two spots to number 23.

The United States, where Bloomberg said unfettered normalisation regardless of vaccine status drove a surge in cases and deaths, fell three spots to 28, while Britain climbed six places to 16.

The five bottom five spots on the list went to Southeast Asian economies: the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

They were among multiple developing nations sitting in the lower half of the ranking, which Bloomberg said partly reflected the vaccine inequality World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described as a shame on all humanity.

Originally posted here:

Covid:19 New Zealand falls 37 spots on global ranking of best places to be amid the pandemic - Stuff.co.nz