3. Question No. 3—Prime MinisterDr SHANE RETI (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 3—Prime Minister3. Dr SHANE RETI (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all of her Government's statements and actions? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House) on behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes. In particular I stand by this Government's decision to accelerate Māori vaccination rates which has seen the Government approve over $46 million to support efforts of the DHBs and providers to reach that 90 percent double-vaccinated target. This includes initiatives to excite and inform rangatahi Māori in particular through TikTok kapa haka and music as well as further support to those on the ground who are knocking on the doors and helping to get vaccines administered. Solid progress has been made in the past month with Māori vaccination rates now reaching 78 percent first dose and double doses following close behind. We know that there's more work to do and we'll continue to support that work on the ground. Dr Shane Reti: Has she seen data from Waka Kotahi that in the month of December State Highway 1 south of Auckland averages 60000 cars a day and if so what advice has she received about how many cars police are expecting to stop and check for vaccine certificates every day under her summer travel restrictions? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: On behalf of the Prime Minister: yes we have seen traffic modelling around the level of movement in and out of Auckland in regular times when there aren't COVID-19 restrictions in place. We've been very clear with the police that the level of spot-checking—how many cars they choose to spot-check—is of course a matter for the police to determine. Dr Shane Reti: When she said yesterday that spot checks would take place at the point of departure does that mean that all spot checks for southbound traffic will need to take place for example on the road immediately south of the Auckland border? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Where spot checks take place will be a matter for the police to determine. Dr Shane Reti: Can she confirm that Cabinet received advice that the option of random spot checks they selected could add three hours to the journey south of State Highway 1 and if not how many hours' delay will it cause? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Cabinet received a range of advice on the potential disruption to travel journeys that checking vaccination could cause. It will ultimately be determined by the extent of spot-checking that takes place and that will be an operational matter for the police to determine. Dr Shane Reti: What was the longest number of hours that spot-check delays could cause in the Cabinet papers he's just described? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: From memory if we were to check every person travelling in and out of Auckland those delays could be very extensive—i.e. more than 12 hours. However that is not the decision that the Cabinet has taken. Dr Shane Reti: What advice has she received if any on the number of police officers who will be needed each day to implement the stop and check system she announced yesterday? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Again that's an operational matter for the New Zealand Police to determine. Dr Shane Reti: When she said yesterday that the system will apply until 17 January does that mean people will be allowed to travel in and out of Auckland freely after then? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes. Dr Shane Reti: Is it her expectation that the announced travel arrangement over Christmas will prevent the spread of COVID out of Auckland and if not what advice has she received about the average number of cases that are expected to cross the border each day under this system? Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: In answer to the first part of the question: no. In answer to the second part of the question: it is designed to slow the rate of spread of COVID-19 out of Auckland.