Most voters happy with New Zealand’s closed borders

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Keeping New Zealand safe from Covid-19 was a priority for the majority of those who responded to this week's web poll question, “Are you OK with the indication New Zealand's borders will remain closed until at least the end of this year?”

Out of 376 votes, 85 percent (322) said yes. Some in that group wanted complete border closure, others pointed out the borders remain semi-permeable, while a small number wanted to open the border to Australia and countries free from Covid-19.

“We have a natural ‘moat' in New Zealand that could be our best line of defence against the coronavirus,” said one person in the “yes” camp.

“More strains of it are emerging, more people are dying and getting sick around the world. This virus is not a hoax, and it is not just a wee cold. NZ has the unique opportunity right now to focus on protecting ourselves.”

Sharing a common concern among many who said yes, was the respondent who felt the borders should be closed to every country of the world, including Australia.

“It is too big a risk for our health to open the borders.”

“But to be honest they are not really closed now are they?” said another. “Too many people arriving for no real urgent reason and for those who do have a reason, they are finding it hard to return.”

Only 14 percent (54) of voters said no and that was reflected in the small number of comments, which included what has become, during the new normal, the obligatory conspiracy theory.

Doesn't the Government realise our tourism industry is on its knees? asked one person in the “no” camp.

“I thought the Government was pretty happy with its control at the borders. So why are we still too frightened to travel between countries?”

The “scamdemic”, with all its death tallies, is a joke, said another.

“Strange how there's no figures come out for flu deaths last year . . . If one dies, it's most likely to be recorded as a virus death, worldwide. What ‘perfect control' from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and the Democrats.”