Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): The preliminary view of the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Protection Framework assessment committee considered whether the South Island, the Wellington region district health boards (DHBs), and the Hawke's Bay and MidCentral DHBs could enter the COVID-19 Protection Framework at green. However, the assessment committee had specific concerns about the number of areas with lower vaccination status, particularly for Māori and also active cases in several DHBs outside of Auckland, so it advised the director-general that all regions should enter at orange except for Auckland and Northland. In answer to the second part of the question, the advice was provided to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) for incorporation into the final Cabinet paper for consideration by Ministers. I'm advised that it was copied to my office as part of that process.