Dear Editor, interesting to read New Zealand opposition leader Christopher Luxon’s comment on his return from overseas travels, that the rest of the world has moved on from Covid-19 and it didn’t feature in any of his conversations with any political leader or officials.

Indeed, the world is moving on. In Europe people are travelling freely and without needing vaccine passes to cross borders. Australia has recently dropped its requirement for international travellers to be vaccinated. Time for the Cooks to revisit its border restrictions.

Vaccination didn’t and doesn’t stop the spread of Covid-19. A third of eligible New Zealanders and Australians have not received their boosters. So are they now considered ‘unvaccinated’ or ‘not up to date’? Will we refuse entry to a significant portion of the NZ/Australian population? We were in NZ recently and no-one cares if you’re vaccinated or not. People are just trying to get on with life and businesses rebuilding. The last thing they want to know is if you’ve got all the vaccine ticks.

So awesome to see tennis great Novak Djokovic’s win at Wimbledon, his seventh Wimbledon win and fourth consecutive crown, 21^st career Grand slam, and so much the sweeter for him after the disgraceful treatment he received in Australia earlier this year. Such a true champion, not only for his actions on the court but his actions off – standing by the strength of his convictions, his right to bodily autonomy and not get vaccinated. He missed his opportunity to play in the Australia Open because of his stance, he’s just been feted in England by royals and crowds for his win, and remains to be seen if he will be able to play in the US Open because of his vaccine status. How ridiculous, one of the fittest, most healthiest people on the planet being denied entry to a country because of his vaccine status. Because healthy unvaccinated athletes are such a threat, right? The guy wouldn’t even be welcome here to the Cook Islands, yet there he is being warmly congratulated by ‘our royals’ William and Kate.

Time for remaining restrictions to be dropped and any further discrimination to end. Like we are seeing in the rest of the world, it is time to move on. 

Kia manuia,

Serena Hunter

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Question to Crown Law

Would you please put this question to Crown Law and press them for an early response in view of the fact that we are just over two weeks out from a general election and voters should be interested.

“What is the legal position if the Constitution imposes a mandatory function, or limitation, upon a Minister and the Minister fails, year after year, to perform that function, or comply with that limitation? If judicial review is not then an option is the Minister in breach of his constitutional duty and does that breach constitute a criminal act with penal consequences?”     

John M Scott