File photoHealth Minister Andrew Little says level four lockdowns are unlikely in future - if New Zealand's vaccination rate climbs above 90%. Questioned on the eventual opening up of borders, he said they would manage it "week by week, month by month". Looking to a future where most New Zealanders were vaccinated, Little said he was attracted to the Australian model, which involved more people being able to recover at home than in hospitals. He said level 3 was seen as a shorter-term transition between level 4 and level 2. He was asked if New Zealand could delay opening up until there were individualised vaccination targets for ethnicities.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 17, 2021 22:30 UTC