In a bid to end its coronavirus lockdowns, the New Zealand government, on Friday, set a monumental target of fully vaccinating 90% of all eligible people. For people in Auckland, it has been a bit of an experience as they have been under lockdown for more than two months. This, in turn, has been putting pressure on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to give them a little pathway to freedom.

Under the new framework, people living in the largest city will regain many of their freedoms once 90% of people 12 and older across each of three districts are fully vaccinated.

Other parts of the country without community spread of the virus will gain even broader freedoms once they hit the 90% target. In the new diktat, they will be required to carry new vaccine certificates to visit places like bars, restaurants and gyms.

The government also said that there will be more money to help struggling businesses that were hit by the lockdown. It also sought to boost vaccinations among Indigenous Maori, whose rates have been lagging.

New Zealand’s vaccination target is set higher than in many other countries, but Ardern said Auckland could reach it within weeks.

Even though the vaccination rates have climbed, there are certain sections that are yet to be convinced of the shot.

Currently, 89% of eligible Aucklanders have had at least one dose and 73% have had both doses, a rate slightly ahead of the national average.

The new plan requires each of 20 health districts in New Zealand to reach the 90% target.

But Opposition Leader Judith Collins said the targets would be hard to achieve and that lockdowns could last for months. Judith is batting to fully reopen the country by December 1.

After completely managing to keep the spread of the virus on the down low, New Zealand has avoided the worst of the pandemic. Aggressive contact tracing and tight border controls played major roles.

(With inputs from Associated Press)