As NZ Goes Into Lockdown, Authorities Have New Powers To Make Sure People Obey The Rules Alexander Gillespie Professor of Law, University of Waikato
New Zealand is now in lockdown for
give authorities powers to implement border and
The laws available to authorities to deal with the emergency include the ability to: • •
pharmacies remaining open.
immovable property
• gain entry onto premises • isolate or quarantine people Ardern has foreshadowed she will also declare a state of emergency and issue an epidemic notice. Ardern has instructed people to stay at home, in
• shut down, disinfect or even destroy many types of premises • stop people from congregating in outdoor spaces • force people to take medical tests
movements in modern history”, as the country
• ban travel.
Highest Alert Level
designation suggests), authorities gain further powers. They can requisition property (private and public) for the transport or treatment of the sick or the holding of bodies. Anybody who fails to to follow orders
New Zealand, and 12 people who have recovered from the illness. the scale of transmission. Level four means that and stricter measures are necessary to try to eliminate it. moves from strong and escalating recommendations for many people to mandatory prohibitions and controls for all people. There are now four cases of community transmission in New Zealand, and even though there is no conclusive evidence that the disease will become widespread, authorities can act in a preemptive way in response to a clear threat that comes does not need absolute proof that disease transmission is occurring within the community at multiple levels before moving to level four.
• inspect, secure, disinfect or destroy any property •
from certain acts
• result in up to three months in jail, and/
In addition, as anxiety levels rise, the police have
The second option the government has This becomes available if the prime minister issues an epidemic notice, quarantinable infectious disease is “likely to disrupt” or continue to disrupt essential governmental and business
maintain public order.
National Emergency expected to take two further steps. It is likely to in situations of such a magnitude that a high-level response is required, involving both national and local governments, emergency services and lifeline
Although the military is not directly part of the civil defence and emergency management structure,
This notice allows the government, in its truncated form of the executive branch, a few safeguards of review, some civil rights and constitutional structure. This means that if deemed absolutely necessary, the government can do nearly anything that needs to be done New Zealand.
the sheer scale of what is being contemplated, it is likely the military will need to be deployed.
We can all slow the spread We all need to work together if we want to slow the spread of COVID-19. Unite against the virus now.
Be kind. Check-in on the elderly or vulnerable
Washing and drying your hands kills the virus
Cough or sneeze into your elbow
Make a difference by: • checking-in on any elderly or vulnerable people you know • dropping supplies to those at home sick.
Wash often. Use soap. 20 seconds. Then dry. This kills the virus by bursting its protective bubble.
It keeps the virus off your hands, so you won’t spread it to other people and make them sick too.
Stay home if you are sick Call your GP before visiting them. Or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
Find out more at Covid19.govt.nz 19
