Opinion: The Premium Debate: Port workers' jab rates and Tauranga tourism boss' apology

Containers at the Port of Tauranga. Photo / NZME

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Covid 19 Delta outbreak: 6.1% of port workers not vaccinated in the Bay after deadline.

Pleased to read this, but employers need clear unequivocal regulations or laws if necessary, to protect their staff and customers from employees who refuse to be vaccinated. There must be protection from prosecution by aggrieved unvaccinated staff. Last week the govt acted to set aside landlords' rights under contract law, the same govt needs to protect employers from being forced to employ the unvaccinated.
- Paddy G

Agree Paddy, right now there's a lack of clarity and support from the government on this; processes that need to be followed, consultation with affected employees. Fine if you are a large company with resources, difficult to navigate for an SME, big problems if you inadvertently get it wrong.
- Greg M

On a broader, and more important note, "no jab, no welfare payment" could be very effective.
- Jim S

About time. This has been going on for weeks and weeks and weeks and so it is now great that this vaccination order is finally in effect. They should expand this order to other industries like health workers and school teachers. Probably won't happen as Labour Party and the Prime Minister are too weak.
- Maria B

I think if parents insist teachers be vaccinated so should the parents of the students they are sending. This is called being responsible as teachers need to be protected as well.
- Mike B

Tauranga Tourism boss 'sorry' after comments about Rotorua's 'accommodation issues' cause upset

No apology needed for speaking the truth.
- Ali M

Oscar is only speaking the truth. More fool Rotorua for allowing it to let get its accommodation into the state it has, good on Tauranga for taking advantage of it. Why should Oscar have to apologise for saying how he sees it?
- Brett S

Certainly a lot of truths in Oscar's statements - but not at all nice for Rotorua. His apology doesn't help much. What has been said has been said. You can't unblow a trumpet.
- Brian H

Covid 19 Delta outbreak: New Zealanders should prepare to encounter virus before Christmas, experts say

It would be the anti-vaxer's fault.
- Renate L

The genie is out of the bottle - it is now a race between getting enough people vaccinated so Covid has few opportunities for infection, and our medical system being overwhelmed.
- David G

Be proactive! If you want a safe and healthy Christmas for yourself, family and the wider community get vaccinated today and spread the word like wildfire!
- John B

The govt has already let the country down with its tardy vaccination plan. Even now, it isn't doing nearly enough to push hard for vaccination. Eg, there is no cash incentive, no public-private cooperation, no advantages conferred on the vaccinated and no disadvantages imposed on the unvaccinated.
- Vincent C