March 24, 2020
Checkpoints way to create unnecessary enemies
Crown Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis and Te Tai Tokerau MP isn’t impressed with efforts by his predecessor to barricade their home town from Covid-19.
Mana Movement leader Hone Harawira says backpackers and tourists are rolling into the Kaitaia Pak'nSave without protective face masks and without self-isolating for 14 days.
He’s organising checkpoints north of Whangarei and Dargaville to quiz travellers and turn back any tourists.
Mr Davis says he’s being alarmist, and the government has matters in hand with its elevation of the threat level.
"The last thing we need are people going on social media and stirring everyone up, playing on people's fears, getting people scared. Just calm, sensible, rational messages, that's what we need. That's the sort of leadership we need now, not somebody who is going to go round trying to rark people up and trying to create an enemy that doesn't exist. Everybody is in this together," he says.
Mr Davis says rather than setting up checkpoints, Mr Harawira should encourage his supporters to ensure their extended whānau are safe and prepared and know what to do.
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