Yesterday, I issued the epidemic notice, and today the Minister of Civil Defence declared a state of national emergency, both of which provide us the powers for Government to move the country to level 4. This is the second time in New Zealand's history that a state of national emergency has been declared. The first was on 23 February 2011. It followed the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch. It followed the death of many New Zealanders, the total destruction of much infrastructure, and the crippling of essential services. It was declared to allow the greatest possible coordination of local, national, and international resources to work on rescue and recovery. I acknowledge members on the other side of the House will know well the magnitude of that declaration at that time. Today, we put in place our country's second state of national emergency as we fight a global pandemic, as we fight to save New Zealanders' lives, to prevent the very worst that we've seen in other countries around the world from happening here, to protect our essential health services, to cushion the economic impacts of COVID-19—a state of national emergency to preserve our way of life.