New Zealand's preparing to move to the next phase of our response in the fight against COVID-19, a global pandemic that has confronted the world and presented a series of challenges around the globe that are unprecedented in our lifetimes in terms of the public health response that has been required. The next phase of our response here in New Zealand focuses on the framework that allows for much greater freedom due to the success of our roll-out of the vaccination. The vaccination programme is the greatest public health tool that we have now in our fight against COVID-19, and it is the most effective way for us to open up the country again safely, without the need to resort to the restrictions we've had in the past. 