Chris Hipkins insists the Government is getting the balance right with the latest Covid restrictions in Northland, Waikato and Auckland. 

The top of the Far North has moved to Alert Level Three at least until Monday. 

It follows confirmation of two Covid cases in Taipa in Doubtless Bay, with no known link to the wider Delta outbreak. 

The Covid-19 Response Minister told Mike Hosking vaccination rates in the area is still far too low, to take the risk of avoiding a lockdown. 

He says a low vaccination rate would lead to a high hospitalisation rate for any outbreak. 

At the same time, Hipkins is defending moving Waikato to Step Two this morning, and Auckland to Step Two next week, before the roll-out of vaccination certificates. 

He says the rate of vaccination in Auckland is high, and only the lowest-risk activities are being opened up. 

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