Sir John Key isn't standing down on his claim that New Zealand has a "smug hermit kingdom" mentality it needs to break out of.

The former Prime Minister claims Labour is ruling with fear, likening its leadership to that of North Korea.

Some experts say Key's suggestions like offering small incentives for getting jabbed and introducing home isolation for MIQ are simplistic or naive.

But Sir John told Mike Hosking he stands by his ideas.

“We cannot carry on doing what we are doing. We have to reopen. Australia’s made it very clear at 80 per cent they're opening up. We’re a country of traders, we have been for 70 or 80 years.”

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