From Jeff Childers

Just when you were ready to write New Zealand off as a lost cause, this happens. New Zealand media excitedly reported a story headlined, “New Zealand High Court ENDS Jacinda Ardern’s Vaccine Mandate: ‘It’s a Gross Violation of Human Rights’.”

You don’t say.

The plaintiffs in the suit were New Zealand military members and police, who argued two provisions from the country’s Bill of Rights – the right to decline medical procedures and the right to religious freedom.

The Court found particularly significant that the jabs aren’t stopping infections. “Covid-19 clearly involves a threat to the continuity of police and NZDF services. That is because the Omicron variant in particular is so transmissible. But that threat exists for both vaccinated and unvaccinated staff. I am not satisfied that the order makes a material difference, including because of the expert evidence before the court on the effects of vaccination on Covid-19 including the Delta and Omicron variants,” the High Court wrote.

So. Keep fighting, Kiwis.