The news of a man who breached alert level three restrictions by flying from Whangārei to Wellington, spending the night and then flying to Queenstown yesterday (Tuesday October 12) was “a stark reminder that we are far from immune to potential exposure in the district”, Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult said.

Read more: Man self-isolating after travelling from Whangarei to Queenstown

Despite having travelled without the necessary travel exemption documents, the man is currently isolating in Queenstown.

Jim said, while details were yet to be released on the man’s vaccination or Covid-19 testing status, “we need to heed the warning”.

“This clearly demonstrates that no matter how hard the government and police are trying... the time for hesitancy has passed.”

Jim called on Queenstown Lakes residents to “act now” in getting fully vaccinated for the good of their whānau, friends, colleagues, and wider community.

“Our district is doing really well in responding to the need to get vaccinated with more than 90 per cent having had their first jab, and well over 50 per cent fully immunised having had their second jab,” he said. 

“Our district relies significantly on visitors and the tourism and hospitality industry, and while it may seem strange to refer to that in these very quiet times, visitors will return as we open up to Auckland and the rest of the world in 2022.”

Jim said in order for the community to be confident it can be resilient and welcome visitors, “as many as possible, if not all, of us” must get vaccinated. 

“This is about protection of our livelihoods as well as our health and wellbeing,” he said.

Jim said he hopes the Queenstown Lakes community will become “the most vaccinated and therefore safest district” in the country by reaching a target of 95 per cent of people fully vaccinated by Christmas.

He said the upcoming ‘Super Saturday’ (October 16) vaccination event this coming weekend provides the perfect opportunity for people to get vaccinated, as there will be clinics open across the district.

PHOTO: Wānaka App