Let us remember the police and defece forces battle over mandates.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-defence-police-vaccine-mandates-government-appeals-high-court-decision/RM44FQY5HEW26QX3IVFJYHKD7U/
And also it appears
"United We Stand
MEDIA RELEASE
16 February 2024
Court of Appeal Decides NZDF Vaccine Mandate Unlawful
Today the Court of Appeal upheld an appeal by members of the NZDF, and
decided that the NZDF COVID-19 vaccine mandate is unlawful.
The High Court ruled in Yardley (2021) that the government vaccine
mandate for all New Zealand Defence Force and uniformed Police workers
was unlawful. Despite this, the NZDF then created its own internal
vaccine mandate forcing those in uniform to get vaccinated or lose their job.
The Court of Appeal held that the NZDF vaccine mandate limited the right
to refuse medical treatment and to manifest religious belief.
The Court of Appeal decided that the Chief of Defence Force was not
justified in limiting these rights by imposing a vaccine mandate in the
way that he did.
This is the third time that members of the NZDF have successfully challenged
a vaccine mandate.
While the majority of New Zealand has moved on from mandates and the new
government has promised to remove all mandates in the public sector,
the NZDF internal mandate has remained in full force until today.
Many highly trained and valuable service personnel have been discharged
for refusing the COVID vaccine, including recently a young pregnant medic
discharged earlier this month.
The unlawful mandate caused many uniformed professionals to be discharged
from the NZDF, from new recruits through to highly decorated senior officers
across all three services. It has also had many second order effects,
limiting career options for those that remain and driving many to leave
of their own accord due to not wanting to remain subject to it.
Discharging capable service members has also been counterproductive at a
time where the NZDF is experiencing high levels of attrition and struggling
to maintain its operational outputs due to record low manning.
NZDF is the only defence force in the Five Eyes of US, UK, Australia,
Canada and NZ that has retained a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its
service members.
Those affected are upset and angry about the NZDF creating its own
unlawful mandate, especially as this happened after the government
mandate was ruled illegal.
To be attributed to a spokesperson of United We Stand:
“Members of the NZDF are everyday New Zealanders who commit their service
to serving their communities.”
“We call on the Chief of Defence Force to apologise for the harm he has
done, and to provide assurances that he will respect the basic rights
of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who serve New Zealand”
To be attributed to Matthew Hague, lawyer for the appellants:
“It is a fantastic result for the protection of fundamental rights in
New Zealand.”
“Members of our Armed Forces sacrifice much in the service of our
country, which means upholding their fundamental rights all the
more important.”
“I call on the Chief of Defence Force to reinstate everyone who
lost their jobs because of the unlawful mandate.”