Congratulating Prime Minister Ardern on New Zealand’s response to coronavirus

That this House congratulates New Zealand’s Labour Government, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, on its 7 October 2020 declaration that the country has eliminated local transmission of coronavirus; notes that this comes after there were no new cases for 10 days in Auckland, its largest city, after a cluster of 179 cases there in August ended a 102-day run without any cases in all of New Zealand; further notes that an extensive testing and contact tracing operation has been key to this success; recognises that the elimination strategy pursued by New Zealand, often known as Zero Covid, is an effective way of not only saving lives but allows for the reopening of the economy; notes that the effective elimination of the virus will put an end to the 100-person limit to public gatherings and social distancing rules in bars and restaurants in Auckland; and calls on the Government to learn from the successful implementation of a Zero Covid strategy by New Zealand.