This week the New Zealand Court of Appeal will hear two appeals relating to vaccine mandates. For the vast majority of the country life is now returning back to relative normality with only a few Covid-era rules remaining in place. However, for those affected by the mandates these cases are of critical importance.
More broadly, these vaccination mandates have set a precedent that could be applied by the government in other scenarios in the future. In a briefing paper received by then Minister Hipkins in February 2021, it was described in the following manner:
