Hasn’t the first week of March 2022 been interesting? What a smorgasbord of news stories… Wellington’s protests have finally come to an end, the Marsden Point refinery has begun what should be its final full month of operation, domestic cases of Covid-19 are hitting new records every day, and the international community continues to condemn and contemplate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Also, the second step in the government’s five-step, nine-month-long plan to reopen the country’s borders becomes effective from 11:59pm tonight.

There’s so much going on that it’s hard to know where to start with it all, let alone pick a single topic to discuss. But exploring them all, in brief, might provide some perspective.

As of 1pm yesterday, there were 146,527 active cases of Covid-19 in the community, with more than 23,000 new community cases. As expected, the numbers are rising every day – but that’s a good thing. Now that we’re dealing with the highly infectious but less dangerous Omicron, the sooner the numbers peak, the better. In the past two weeks, I’ve spoken with numerous companies playing a game of musical chairs as staff identified as close contacts sit out their 10 days of isolation. Undoubtedly, the same applies to many businesses countrywide as they press on through what will hopefully be the beginning of the end for all the chaos wrought by Covid-19.

Happily, from tomorrow, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents and other eligible travellers can enter the country from anywhere in the world without the need to self-isolate or enter MIQ. While they’ll breathe a sigh of relief as they reunite with family, the bigger picture is that the country is finally moving towards allowing some desperately needed international skills back into the country over the next couple of months.

Not, I’m guessing, that any of that that matters much to the good folk at Marsden Point. With the refinery’s shutdown (and subsequent dismantling) planned for 1 April, most of the workers and contractors would currently be seeking alternate employment. Last year, it was reported that just 20% of staff will be retained at the facility as it becomes an import-only terminal. (This – we’re told – will not affect New Zealand’s fuel supply or security. But that’s a discussion that requires a whole lot of exploration…)

At least, though, the residents of this Northland community have options. Roughly 17,000km northeast, the residents of Ukraine have other things on their minds as some put up a fight and others seek refuge. Commentary on the global political landscape is not our domain, but from what I’ve read in the past week, uncertainty and tensions are rising. Undoubtedly, Vlad’s belligerence will have much wider-reaching consequences and affect more than just the two countries in conflict. One example is the warning of an impact on international oil supply, with Russia being the world’s second- or third-largest producer (depending on who you ask). I shudder to think of the more disastrous scenarios.

So, where does all that leave us at the end of this chaotic news week? Definitely with a little more uncertainty than when we started. And with a supply chain under increasing strain. Hopefully, though, we’re in Covid’s final squeeze. And as the borders reopen, there will be some knock-on economic benefits. Yet, depending on what happens in Ukraine, the events of the past two-odd years might pale in comparison. From one global crisis to the next? Hopefully not.

Take care out there,

Gavin Myers
Editor