National Party leader Christopher Luxon says that he is ‘broadly supportive' of the Government's decisions made today in regards to the Covid-19 response, but has concerns with the wider health system.

'We're very supportive of the decisions the Government has made today,” says Luxon, who is visiting Te Puke this afternoon.

'The thing I'd like to see added is the addition of a fourth booster made freely available for anyone who wants it essentially.

'In Australia, you can get access if you're 30 years or older, but we support broadly the proposals that have been brought forward.

'The bigger issue is our healthcare system. The fact that we have a system that is 4000 nurses short, 1500 doctors short, and 1500 hospital specialists short, and you see New Zealanders in a leaking tent in heavy rain trying to get into a hospital, that's not good enough.

'We've got a minister that is more distracted on building a massive health bureaucracy that you see in Wellington, rather than spending money on frontline services.”

Luxon also is continuing to call for simpler Covid-19 regulations.

'The traffic light system is complex and hard to understand.

'What we need is some very simple rules. Masking, isolation, and for people to be able to get that fourth booster.

Luxon adds that he is 'very supportive” of masks, but does not see the need for more mask regulations.

'I think the settings are alright, Kiwis just need some basic direction, and they will follow the guidelines pretty well.”

The National Party leader also says that he would like to see anti-viral medication made more widely available.

'Over the last six months, many countries have had more of those anti-virals available to more of their whole population, and they've been very effective. So, I think if we can get more live anti-virals and available to more people, that is very good.

'Making masks and RAT tests more available so they can be more used is a good thing, making sure we get anti-virals to more people is a good thing."