Listen Now: 
The Prime Minister says everything has been done to prepare and protect people for today’s reopening of the Auckland border.
Jacinda Ardern says Tāmaki Makaurau is now the most highly-vaccinated region, and Aucklanders who want to leave are being asked to be double-vaccinated or have a negative test.
Rapid antigen tests are now available at pharmacies.
While most of the current cases are among Māori, she says the fact 86 percent of eligible Māori have now had at least a first dose is a positive sign the protection efforts are working.
The pandemic has made work many existing inequalities, and Ms Ardern says the Government is starting to address those with changes such as the creation of a Māori Health Authority.
RELATED NEWS
