Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: This Government believes that the best economic response to COVID-19 is a strong public health response. This stance is in line with our wellbeing approach and the Living Standards Framework. In deciding yesterday to extend current restrictions until Sunday, we are giving ourselves the time to fully bring the current outbreak under control. Doing so means that we can return to normal levels of economic activity faster, allowing a more rapid recovery. This is exactly what we saw in New Zealand in June, July, and the first 12 days of August. In the meantime, we have provided the wage subsidy to help businesses pay and retain workers over this period. This is in addition to the previous wage subsidy extension, which remains open for applications until 1 September. We know that the current restrictions are difficult for businesses and households, but by going hard and early to eliminate the virus wherever it appears, while cushioning the blow, we put our economy in a better position to recover—as we saw in June, July, and the beginning of August.