NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Covid 19 coronavirus: Top New Zealand athletes in line to get vaccine to compete on world stage

Jason Walls
By Jason Walls
Political Editor – Newstalk ZB·NZ Herald·
24 Mar, 2021 04:00 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said there were strict criteria for these for early vaccinations – and only would be granted "for people who need to travel outside of New Zealand on compassionate grounds or for reasons of national significance".

Some of New Zealand's top athletes, including its Olympians, will be eligible to jump the vaccine queue and get the Covid-19 jab so they can represent the country on the world stage.

And New Zealanders who wish to visit a dying loved one overseas will also be eligible to get the vaccine ahead of the mid-year general rollout.

But new urgent overseas travel rules don't extend to those who want to travel outside New Zealand for a family funeral.

The Prime Minister and other ministers might also be in line to get the jab, if they have to leave the country for official business.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has outlined the Government's "strict criteria" for early vaccination.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It covers those who need to travel outside New Zealand for reasons of national significance, as well as on compassionate grounds.

"A very high threshold for early access to vaccines has been set," Hipkins said.

That threshold, he added, would balance compassion with the need to avoid potential queue-jumping ahead of at-risk groups, without a strong justification.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

New Zealand's general vaccine rollout will begin midway through this year but the new criteria mean certain people can get the vaccine early.

Only those who need to travel before August 31, who have already made commitments to return to New Zealand after they travel, will be eligible.

"They will also need to ensure, as far as practically possible, that they are able to receive both doses of the vaccine before the scheduled departure," Hipkins said.

In terms of national significance, those applying must be representing New Zealand in an official capacity, at significant international events, or in an official non-government capacity.

Discover more

World

European Commission lashes EU for hoarding vaccines

16 Mar 05:52 PM
Editorial

Editorial: Vaccine furore a cautionary tale

22 Mar 04:00 PM
New Zealand|politics

Eight new Covid cases in MIQ, vaccine schedule tool now online

22 Mar 12:53 AM
New Zealand

'Gutted': Woman's Auckland MIQ stay extended nearly two weeks after bus exposure event

24 Mar 05:35 AM
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield arriving before announcing the Government's Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plan. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield arriving before announcing the Government's Covid-19 vaccine roll-out plan. Photo / Mark Mitchell

"The key yardstick here is that people are travelling in an official capacity and ensuring the participation is in our national interests," Hipkins said.

He said it was his understanding that a "few hundred" athletes and sportspeople would be eligible for an early jab.

Asked which sports would fit this category, he said: "Sports that everybody is hanging out to watch on television".

"Certainly, our expectation is that the Olympians would be eligible under the national interest criteria," Hipkins said.

It could also mean the Black Caps, who are competing in the ICC World Test Championship final in the UK in June, will get the vaccines ahead of the general population.

And the rules mean that ministers might get to travel abroad, for national significance reasons.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Asked about this, Hipkins said there was a bit of a dilemma in this area.

"We don't want our political leaders to be seen jumping the queue.

"On the other hand, we are getting questions from people along the lines of: 'well, if this is a very safe thing and you're backing it, why are you not doing it yourself.'"

He said ministers still need to make decisions on this.

Compassionate grounds will only be considered for those who: Need to provide critical care or protection for a dependant, those who need to access critical medical care not available in New Zealand, or anyone visiting an immediate family member who is dying.

These exemptions do not, however, apply to those looking to go overseas to attend a funeral.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We do have to draw the line somewhere and ultimately, this was where we drew that line," Hipkins said.

"I think there is something about those precious final moments that make people's desire to see those family members before they pass away very, very understandable."

But those who are given the green light to get the jab to go overseas will still have to stay in managed isolation in New Zealand when they return home.

Hipkins also yesterday revealed that 41,500 vaccines have now been administered– that's up roughly 14,000 on the week prior.

And he said by next Tuesday, the Government is expecting 50 vaccination clinics will be open across New Zealand.

Hipkins said the Government was "broadly on schedule" but when pressed, director-general of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield conceded that the rollout was "slightly behind schedule".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We have delivered about 93 per cent of where we plan to be so far," he said, before adding that this level of vacation was an "A+".

There were no new Covid-19 community cases yesterday and genome sequencing has linked a Covid-positive MIQ worker to a returnee who was staying at the Grand Millennium Hotel.

Meanwhile, an MIQ traveller was told of a positive test result on Sunday while they were exercising away from their hotel – the Grand Mercure in Auckland.

They were then taken back in the same bus as 23 other MIQ travellers who had been exercising at the same time.

Bloomfield said 14 of the 23 were classified as close contacts and would now have to spend 14 more days in MIQ, starting from Sunday.

This was despite Hipkins saying yesterday that the people were appropriately physically distanced on the bus.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The extra days in MIQ may have been unnecessary if the person with Covid had simply been transported back to the Grand Mercure separately.

Asked how he would feel if he had been knowingly placed on a bus with someone who had Covid-19, even if everyone was being physically distanced and wearing masks, Hipkins said he would feel "disappointed".

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Far North homes without power after severe gales

New Zealand

Man hides out in bush for 5 months after slicing victim with machete over $20

New Zealand

Measles spreads beyond Wairarapa, 6 locations of interest in Feilding


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Far North homes without power after severe gales
New Zealand

Far North homes without power after severe gales

More than 170 customers south of Cape Rēinga are still without power.

17 Jul 08:26 AM
Man hides out in bush for 5 months after slicing victim with machete over $20
New Zealand

Man hides out in bush for 5 months after slicing victim with machete over $20

17 Jul 08:00 AM
Measles spreads beyond Wairarapa, 6 locations of interest in Feilding
New Zealand

Measles spreads beyond Wairarapa, 6 locations of interest in Feilding

17 Jul 07:43 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP