well as the Treaty of Waitangi. Opposition parties and civil liberties groups also expressed concerned that the bill empowered Police to enter premises without a warrant. In response to criticism, Parker claimed that the bill limited police search powers in comparison to the Health Act 1956 and the national state of emergency. Musician and conspiracy theorist Billy Te Kahika's New Zealand Public Party has sought to repeal the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act. In late July 2020, the Public Party entered into an alliance with independent MP Jami-Lee Ross's Advance New Zealand party. On 18 October 2022, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced that the Government would scrap several of the Public Health Response Act's provisions including powers to implement lockdowns, managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ), border closures, vaccine passes and mandates. The Government however opted to retain the Act's provisions for seven-day isolation periods, mask use and border entry requirements until Parliament passed newer, general pandemic legislation. Notes and references External links 2020 in New Zealand law Statutes of New Zealand COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Health law in New Zealand Law associated with the COVID-19 pandemic