NZTSOS Inc. (New Zealand Teachers Speaking Out with Science Incorporated) say that today’s announcement by the Prime Minister of the temporary lifting/tweak of the vaccine mandates in the education sector is a minor victory in the court of public opinion.

Until this Government recognises the absolute human right for all New Zealanders to refuse to undergo medical treatment, then this is a hollow victory for us all and NZTSOS will continue to fight for that absolute right to be restored and upheld for all its members.

“As Judge Cooke said in his ruling for the police and Defence Force, everyone has the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment. It is enshrined in our New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. If we allow this right to be removed, or to put on hold, then what is stopping the government from removing more human rights in the future?” says spokesperson Mike Shaw.

What was not clear from the Prime Minister’s announcement today was whether teachers and employees who had been mandated out of a job in the education sector, could get their jobs back. “The Prime Minister seemed almost nonchalant about this question,’’ said Shaw. “The mandates were never a good idea from the start. They have divided our communities, negatively impacting schools, the early childhood sector, students, and indeed whole communities. There are better ways to get community buy-in and health protection than using these mandates to bully and segregate friends, colleagues, families and whole communities. I believe the mental health, social and economic impacts are disproportionate to any perceived benefits that the mandates might have had”.

New Zealand Teachers Speaking Out with Science continue to wait for a ruling from Justice Francis Cooke on their case in the High Court against the Covid-19 Response Minister, Director General of Health and Attorney General.

From NZTSOS (New Zealand Teachers Speaking Out With Science).