Let me make it very clear where I sit on Ardern’s announcement today that teachers will be required to be fully vaccinated on pain on loosing their jobs. I do this as a National Party activist and acknowledging that I don’t speak for the Party in the same way as my good friend Tom H is want to point point out that he doesn’t speak for ACT in his various posts.

Let’s put all that to one-side. I can understand the mandate as it applies to international travel. That decision is out of our hands. It’s made by other jurisdictions. I can understand the decision as it applies to front-line border workers. I can accept the mandate for certain medical professionals but there needs to be much further clarity as to whom that applies.

But I CANNOT accept the mandate for the teaching profession (and support staff). I was involved in that industry for nigh on 14 years and can say with some confidence it was like herding cats. There will be some in that profession who, for what ever reason, will decline vaccination. So are they to be cast out onto the streets and let go, thank you but no thanks? One suspects this will be a godsend for employment lawyers. But more importantly let’s take that one step further. Are students who decline to be vaccinated to be denied entry into the classroom?

Where does it stop … today the classroom … tomorrow where?