Simon Bridges pens open letter to Jacinda Ardern on behalf of faith communities

Extend the 10-person limit on religious gatherings to allow faith communities to gather in a "meaningful way", the leader of the Opposition has urged in a stern open letter to the Prime Minister.

The alert level 2 safety measure, which was enshrined in law under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Bill on Wednesday, prohibits New Zealand's faith communities from holding gatherings of more than 10 people.

It means most faith communities are unable to gather until New Zealand's coronavirus response downgrades to alert level 1 - a date that's yet been decided on.

And Simon Bridges, whose National Party failed in efforts to stop the COVID-19 bill being passed this week, told Jacinda Ardern that religious organisations should be trusted to enforce safety precautions themselves.

"Religious institutions are in a better place than almost any other organisation that is allowed to host larger crowds, and are therefore able to ensure appropriate physical distancing and health precautions are taking place," he wrote in the letter, which was posted to social media on Friday afternoon.

"I strongly urge you to reconsider this limit so New Zealanders of faith can gather and worship this weekend and participate in what is one of the most defining aspects of their lives: expressing their faith through worship."

While many religious organisations support the 10-person limit, others have expressed disdain for it - particularly Destiny Church, whose pastors Brian and Hannah Tamaki plan to go ahead with a service this weekend despite it breaching the Government's rules.

Earlier this week, National MP Simon O'Connor took issue with strip clubs being allowed to operate while church services remain against the rules - a point leader Bridges doubled-down on in his letter.

"New Zealanders find it inconsistent that you allow large numbers of people at bars, restaurants or sporting events but continue to deny more than 10 people gathering for religious services," he wrote.

"New Zealanders of faith have understood the need to sacrifice their freedom of religion to gather for worship to support our fight against COVID-19.

"People of all faiths have done their part, however, they are now being told that despite our alert level being reduced they are still no longer able to meet for worship."

If the Government was to alter its alert level 2 regulations, it would mark the second such change in three days.

On Wednesday afternoon Health Minister Dr David Clark announced the Government would extend the cap on funerals and tangihanga to 50, rather than an initial 10, following a backlash from Māori communities.

And it's a change Bridges urges them to make again.

"It was right to increase the number of people who can attend funerals and tangi," he writes, "[and] it is right to do the same for our faith communities."

Read Simon Bridges' full open letter to Jacinda Ardern

Dear Prime Minister,

I write to you on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who practice many different faiths and religions, who continue to be unable to gather in any meaningful way for worship this weekend because the COVID-19 restrictions your Government has chosen to keep in place limit the number of people who can attend religious services to 10.

New Zealanders of faith have understood the need to sacrifice their freedom of religion to gather for worship to support our fight against COVID-19.

People of all faiths have done their part, however they are now being told that despite our alert level being reduced they are still no longer able to meet for worship.

New Zealanders find it inconsistent that you allow large numbers of people at bars, restaurants or sporting events but continue to deny more than 10 people gathering for religious services.

It was right to increase the number of people who can attend funerals and tangi – it is right to do the same for our faith communities.

Religious institutions are in a better place than almost any other organisation that is allowed to host larger crowds, and are therefore able to ensure appropriate physical distancing and health precautions are taking place.

I strongly urge you to reconsider this limit so New Zealanders of faith can gather and worship this weekend and participate in what is one of the most defining aspects of their lives: expressing their faith through worship.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Bridges

Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the National Party