Dr Rawiri Taonui: The New Zealand campaign against the first wave of Covid-19 eliminated the virus in 100 days. The first case was notified on 28 February, we closed our borders on 18 March, imposed a comprehensive Level 4 lockdown on 26 March, the last new case was notified on 22 May and the last active case recovered on 7 June..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: New Zealand fought a remarkably successful campaign against the First Wave of Covid-19. Our first case was notified on 28 February. Imposing border restrictions on 18 March was key.

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The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, has said that over the last five centuries the most reliable Indigenous strategy to protect our vulnerable communities against the familiar foe of a foreign introduced disease is the ability to isolate. She believes this is still the best strategy today with Covid-19..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield have announced we will move to Level 1 tonight Monday 8 June at midnight. This means all restrictions on business, social gatherings and sports are lifted. Border controls will remain in place..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: The latest data to 27 May shows improved testing of Māori and Pacific communities. The National Average for testing by ethnic group is 50 tests per1000 people. An acceptable range is +/- 20% of that figure (between 40 to 60 people per1000 of the population)..Read more

THE NEW ZEALAND SITUATION: The main figures inspire confidence that New Zealand has gained a good degree of control over COVID-19..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: This update assesses the numbers and risk of a second wave as we move further into Level 2. Cafes, bars, gyms, restaurants, and cinemas were opened on 14 May. Schools open tomorrow. Bars will re-open starting 21 May. The main risk of a second wave lies in the five large urban DHBs (Waitematā, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Canterbury). There is a risk to Māori and Pacific communities in those centres..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: The numbers give good news on the last day of Level 3. On the first day of ZERO new cases (4 May), I suggested we needed many more ZERO new case days and active cases below 50 before we could move confidently from Level 3..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: Balancing the economy and people, and in the shadow of undertesting non-European communities, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that New Zealand is moving to Level 2. As predicted in this update, we will start moving to Level 2 this Thursday 14 May..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are ZERO new Māori cases today. The total stays at 126. There have been 17 ZERO days since 12 April and only 1 new case in the last 10 days. The 10-day trend runs: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0. The lower trend for Māori relates to more Māori living outside of the regions of our largest DHBs.Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are ZERO new Māori cases today. The total stays at 126. The 10-day trend runs: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-0-0. Maori have had 16 ZERO days since 12 April. This is testament to the tremendous effort of Māori protecting communities, looking after the vulnerable and standing on checkpoints.Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: On 11 May, the government will decide whether we stay at Level 3 or move to Level 2. All indications are that they will move to Level 2 in a staged process. More retail will open in the middle of next week. Schools might start back the following week. International travel restrictions will remain. Bubbles will be more flexible..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: The Ministry of Health has released the latest testing data to 30 April..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are 2 new cases today. With 1 probable case now re-defined as negative, total cases are 1488. There is 1 new death. Total deaths are 21. New cases are single-digit or ZERO for 18 consecutive days. The 10-day trend is: 5-3-2-3-3-6-2-0-0-2. Clearly, we have not eliminated COVID-19..Read more

Dr Rawri Taonui : During the 1913 Smallpox Epidemic, New Zealand produced 734,000 vaccines. Distribution prioritised Pākehā cities and towns. The Kiingitanga received 80 vaccines for 300 people. Hokianga received none..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are 5 new confirmed and probable cases today. 6 probable cases have been reclassified as negative. Therefore, total cases decline by 1 to 1469. There is 1 new death. The total is 19. New cases have been single digit for 9 consecutive days 9-9-5-6-3-5-5-9-5..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: Aotearoa take a bow. We must celebrate this first day of ZERO new cases for our country and the Pākehā community. Māori and Pacific communities have already had several ZERO days of new cases. Māori 12 since 12 April, and, Pacific 6 since 3 April..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are ZERO new cases today. Total cases are 1487. There are no new deaths. Total deaths stay at 20. New cases are single-digit or ZERO for 16 consecutive days..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: For the 10th time in 12 days, there are no new Māori cases. The total stays at 126. With typical inaccurate ethnic data, the Ministry of Health says Māori are 8% of all cases. Māori are 8.5% of all cases..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: For the 9th time in 11 days, there are no new Māori cases. The total stays at 126. With typical inaccurate ethnic data, the Ministry of Health says Māori are 8% of all cases. Māori are 8.5% of all cases..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are no new Māori cases today for the 8th time in ten days there have been no new cases. The total is 126. The Ministry says Māori are 9% of all cases. We are 8.5% of all cases. Over the last 10 days, new cases have run 0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are 3 new cases today. One probable case has been re-designated as negative. Total cases are 1476. There are no new deaths. The total stays at 19..Read more

There are 2 new confirmed and probable cases today. Total cases are 1474. There are no new deaths. The total stays at 19. New cases are single digit for 11 consecutive days 9-9-5-6-3-5-5-9-5-3-2..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are 3 new confirmed and probable cases today. Total cases are 1472. There are no new deaths. The total remains 19. New cases are single digit for 10 consecutive days 9-9-5-6-3-5-5-9-5-3..Read more

Dr Rawiri Taonui: There are 5 new confirmed and probable cases today. 6 probable cases have been reclassified as negative. Therefore, total cases decline by 1 to 1469. There is 1 new death. The total is 19..Read more