Think tank says NZ was ‘woefully underprepared’ for Covid

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

On the same day the police watchdog’s report into the force’s handling of last year’s protest and three-week occupation of parliament is being released, a think tank’s report into the government’s Covid-19 response has found it overly political, lacking adaptability and agility, and needing more transparency.

The study called Lifting the Lid: A Critical Analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic Management in New Zealand and it has been published by The New Zealand Initiative, a pro-free-market think tank.

It found Aotearoa was woefully underprepared for a contagious outbreak of this size and failed to capitalise on its geographical location to stem the spread.

It goes as far as saying the initial outbreak could have been avoided entirely, but also offers recommendations on how to improve future responses.

Auckland University emeritus professor of medicine Des Gorman is one of the lead authors, and he spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Professor Des Gorman says it makes no sense to resort to social lockdowns to control an outbreak of COVID-19.

Professor Des Gorman says it makes no sense to resort to social lockdowns to control an outbreak of COVID-19. Photo: supplied

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

‘I he ‘aho tatau pe ne tuku mai ai ‘a e  lipooti kulile’o ki he kau polisi ne  nau  tokanga’i  ‘a e fakafepaki uike ‘e tolu ne fai ‘i tu’a Fale Alea ne pehe ‘e ha lipooti ‘a ha tangike fakakaukau ;o pehe ko e ngāue ‘a e pule’anga ki he Koviti 19 na’e fu’u fakapolitikale, si’i ha’ane malava ke ala liliu pe vave ‘ene nga’unu, pea fiema’u ke lahi ange ‘ene ‘ata ki tu’a.

Ko e sitati ‘eni ne ui ko e Lifting the Lid: A Critical Analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic Management ‘i Nu’u Sila pea na’e pulusi ia ‘i ha tangike fakakaukau oku ne poupou’i ‘a e maketi tau’ataina ko e The New Zealand Initiative.

Ne ne ‘ilo na’e ‘ a e tu’unga fakamamahi e ta’e mateuteu ‘a Aotearoa ki he to mai ‘a e to’umahaki  pipihi lahi peheni pea ‘ikai lava to’o e faingamalie ‘i hono tu’unga fakasiokalafi ke ta’ofi ‘ene pipihi.

Ne toe hoko atu ‘o pehe ko e ‘uluaki too ne lava ke mai fakangata kakato, ka ne toe tuku mai ai ‘a e fale’i ke fakalelei ki ha ngaue ki ai he kaha’u.

Ne kau ‘a e palofesa malolo he metikolo mei he ‘Univesiti ‘Aokalani ko Des Gorman i he kau fa’u ‘o e lipooti ko eni

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