Māori party warns reopening New Zealand amid Covid outbreak would be ‘modern genocide’

Party say Maori would be sacrificial lambs' if Covid restrictions are lifted before vaccination rates rise

New Zealand's government would be committing modern genocide" by reopening the country as Covid spreads among under-vaccinated indigenous people, the Mori party has said.

The comments come as the country is struggling to contain its current Delta outbreak, with 95 cases reported over the weekend, and another 35 on Monday. Most current cases and hospitalisations are among Mori and Pacific New Zealanders, despite the fact those groups make up less than 30% of the total population. New Zealand is also in the process of pivoting away from its longstanding elimination strategy.