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Chris Hipkins Shares REGRETS about Covid Lockdowns

April 10, 202500:59
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probably the two things where I think if
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I could go back and do them differently,
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one would be how we treated Oakland at
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the end of final lockdown, I think we
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could have still had the boundary around
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Oakland but given people more freedom
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within Oakland as long as people were
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staying in Oakland, not spreading around
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the rest of the country. And then we
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probably could have released that
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boundary around Oakland earlier. And
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then the international border, we had a
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plan around how we were going to reopen
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the border that stepped us through what
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was a logical sequence. We brought that
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forward, but we stuck roughly to the
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plan even once CO was spreading within
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the New Zealand community. And I think
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we probably should have been a bit more
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arbitrary when we were in the height of
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co we were basically responsible for
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everything. It meant that we wanted
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everything to run smoothly and we
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accepted responsibility for everything
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to run smoothly. When we got to the end
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co has started to spread. There came a
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time when we had to release that and be
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like it's not our responsibility and if
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things don't run smoothly that's not our
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responsibility either. It was impossible
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to make that kind of return to normal a
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smooth journey. It was always going to
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be a bit bumpy and a bit messy.

Podspun Insights

In this episode, the discussion dives into the complexities of managing public health during a crisis, specifically focusing on the decisions made regarding Oakland and international borders. The speaker reflects on the challenges faced at the end of lockdown, contemplating how a more flexible approach could have been beneficial. The narrative unfolds with a candid admission of the difficulties in balancing responsibility and the need for a return to normalcy, highlighting the inevitable bumps along the way. This thoughtful exploration not only sheds light on the intricacies of decision-making in times of uncertainty but also resonates with anyone who has navigated the chaotic waters of crisis management.

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Episode Highlights

  • Reflecting on Decisions
    A reflection on how decisions regarding Oakland's lockdown could have been handled differently.
    “We probably could have released that boundary around Oakland earlier.”
    @ 00m 14s
    April 10, 2025
  • Responsibility and Normalcy
    Discussing the challenges of returning to normalcy during the pandemic.
    “It's not our responsibility if things don't run smoothly.”
    @ 00m 48s
    April 10, 2025

Episode Quotes

Key Moments

  • Lockdown Decisions00:03
  • Responsibility Shift00:39