Matt King
Northland is home. As a former police officer, detective and small business owner, I understand the local issues. I had the privilege of serving as the MP for Northland from 2017-20, which allowed me to connect with people from all walks of life across the length and breadth of the electorate. While I am not a sitting MP this term, I am still deeply committed to our region and our people. In addition to the various roles I have held, I have been a farmer for more than three decades. I am an independent thinker, and I believe in having a strong voice to advocate for the issues that matter.
If there is one thing that the refreshed, Luxon-led National Party team has achieved so far, it is exposing the fact that, without COVID, Ardern’s Labour Government has nothing. Every Labour answer (or should we say excuse?) to a question or statement from the Opposition is factually empty, emotively delivered, and COVID-laced. We are all just so tired of it. The rest of the world has adjusted to living with COVID and is adapting to it – not Ardern, because without it, she is nothing. If the pandemic ends, Labour’s control over our lives and very existence ends.
Ask yourself what she has achieved and the only thing you can possibly point to is that New Zealand has escaped multiple deaths from COVID. Is this because of her or despite her? Remember, we have an abundance of natural benefits – low population, geographical isolation, and a relatively compliant public.
If you compare our response with Queensland for example, which has a similar population but without the geographical benefits (it shares a land border with other states and is close to PNG), our statistics don’t look that great.
Queensland has only had seven COVID deaths and 2,157 cases in total. We have had 44 deaths and 12,516 cases.
Further, their lockdowns have been far less restrictive and far more targeted. Their COVID tracing has been first-class and their MIQ strict and successful. Their businesses have coped far better with less government financial support because a much wider range of businesses have been able to continue to operate with far fewer restrictions.
The consequences of hardline lockdowns in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland, have been substantially increased mental health issues and increased deaths from suicides, as well as the demise of many small businesses – the backbone of New Zealand enterprise – that, had they been in Queensland, could have survived.
The poor vaccine roll-out and subsequent mandates that have resulted in increased unemployment and state dependency, the poorly administered MIQ system, ineffective contact tracing, failure to introduce rapid antigen testing, failure to boost ICU capacity, and pandering to the gangs – who then spread COVID – are just a few of the many failures of Ardern/Labour’s COVID response.
It’s time for New Zealand to stand up to this over-controlling and undemocratic Labour Government, led by the master of spin – Ardern – and demand that we learn to live with COVID like the rest of the world has. Our isolation and closed border (domestic and international) has caused significant mental blocks now, driven by fear tactics from the Jacinda Ardern podium of spin. It’s time to open up again: geographically and mentally, it’s time to get on with living life again.