Kerre McIvor has torn into the Government and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over the continued handling of the Covid-19 crisis. 

Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlined the framework of the next steps of the Covid-19 response.

Amongst the plans was that another outbreak of community transmission could see alert levels enforced in different regions or communities.

Ardern said the country will remain at Alert level 1 nationally - but stronger restrictions could be applied in separate neighbourhoods, towns or cities, if local cases emerge.

She said before bringing in a national change, they would move to a local or regional levels - as appropriate.

The response sparked criticism from McIvor, who says that people are already concerned enough about the virus.

She played audio from one caller, who said that he felt that, should the border be relaxed, then he stands at risk of catching Covid-19 and dying. 

McIvor says that the lockdown has kept the worst of Covid away, but there have undoubtedly been cases that have slipped through the cracks but we haven't felt their impacts.

McIvor says that it is reprehensible that the country is being kept in a state of fear over community transmission - that is damaging not only the economy, but people's wellbeing. 

"She is creating a climate of terror designed to keep people cowed and bowed. 

"It's cynical, and I believe she was acting in the best interest of the country in the beginning, and now it's become almost a mania."

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