11. Question No. 11—COVID-19 ResponseCHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 11—COVID-19 Response11. CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions in relation to the COVID-19 response?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Yes. In particular I stand by the Government's overall response to COVID-19 which has put the safety and interests of all New Zealanders squarely at its centre. Over the course of the week we've outlined the next phase of our response which includes the road map for operating under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework and the pathway for reconnecting New Zealand with the world. Earlier today Ministers Sepuloni Little and Verrall outlined the Government's plans for supporting New Zealanders to recover from COVID-19 in the community. I would note that in addition to becoming one of the most vaccinated countries in the world New Zealand has the lowest rate of cases and deaths in the OECD.Chris Bishop: When is the earliest foreign travellers and tourists will be allowed to enter New Zealand under the reconnecting New Zealand to the world policy he's just referenced?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: It depends whether they would qualify under either of the January or February groups that are being allowed in. In terms of the general admission of foreign nationals we've set an April date around that and we'll continue to work towards that. People wanted a date so we have given them a date. There is still some uncertainty about that and I acknowledge that but we'll continue to work through that.Chris Bishop: Why can a vaccinated and negative tested Aucklander travel around New Zealand before Christmas but a New Zealander in Queensland with no COVID cannot travel to Auckland?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I've been through many times already in this House the Government acknowledges that coming across the border does pose a risk and that the number of people coming across the border will increase exponentially when we allow a greater number of people to travel back into the country. The Australians are making decisions around removing their internal borders and that has had a bearing on our thinking in that particular area.Chris Bishop: Has New Zealand placed a purchase order for Pfizer vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds and if so when did New Zealand do so?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The advanced purchase agreement that we announced for additional doses includes—it's already been announced and it's already been signed—access to paediatric doses.Chris Bishop: Point of order Mr Speaker. The question was whether or not New Zealand has raised a purchase order for those vaccine doses not whether or not the advanced purchase agreement allows for that to happen.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Mr Speaker I'm happy to further elaborate. In terms of when purchase orders are raised that's part of an ongoing negotiation around delivery schedules. Purchase orders typically get raised once a delivery schedule has been confirmed with Pfizer. A delivery schedule for paediatric doses has not yet been confirmed.Chris Bishop: Why has the Government not yet agreed a delivery schedule with Pfizer for five- to 11-year-old vaccines given other countries have been able to do so and in fact are rolling them out right now?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In fact very few countries have.Chris Bishop: Does he believe New Zealanders had adequate opportunity to participate in the legislating of the COVID-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Bill and if so how?Hon Chris Hipkins: No. One of the realities in dealing with a global pandemic is sometimes the usual processes that are the most optimal and the most desirable aren't as possible as they normally would be.