Test fail: Is Labour bordering on trouble?

Parties try to look tough as border policies are rolled out, Labour fails its testing test and what are the implications of delaying the election?

By Tim Watkin

These are testing times for New Zealanders, as Auckland spends two weeks at level three. But news over the past week that the testing at our borders has fallen far short of what the government promised has put Labour on the back foot and opened the door to its opponents.

National and New Zealand First have stepped up with border protection policies that seek to out-tough each other. While Winston Peters said he'd "take every step" to improve our management of Covid-19, Judith Collins played to her "crusher" reputation insisting, "tough times need tough measures".

Both parties are looking to capitalise on Labour's growing reputation for porousness - from people escaping from isolation facilities to a failure to test all workers at the border. While Labour is the face of mismanagement - and it's noticeable the party is trying to keep Jacinda Ardern's face away from the tough questions, with Chris Hipkins and Megan Woods stepping forward to take the flak - the temporary wire fences surrounding quarantine hotels are becoming emblematic of a government still in makeshift mode, having to make up a response as it goes along. Such is the danger of incumbency; ministers this week are looking tired.

New Zealand First, by contrast, is promising to bring in the military to take over quarantine facilities, moving those in isolation to existing military bases at the likes of Ōhakea and Waiouru. They want a new Border Protection Force reporting to one Cabinet minister to lead New Zealand's Covid-19 response. Voters have to decide how credible it is that a party sitting around the Cabinet table can point the finger at "the government".

Winston Peters got his announcement out just ahead of National, which is also promising a new Border Protection Agency and one dedicated minister. National would also require all people travelling to New Zealand (including citizens) to be tested before they board the plane (or boat), mandate contact tracing for frontline border workers, aim to cut test waits to one hour and require rest-home workers to be tested regularly. Both parties are stressing that their plans are long-term and sustainable…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details