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Original poster

To be shocked at how normal everything looks in New Zealand?

999 replies

GoldenLabbie · 31/12/2020 14:55

Huge crowds seeing the New Year. No masks, no social distancing. You wouldn’t know that the rest of the world is in the grip of a pandemic looking at those scenes. How did we manage to get it so wrong but they got it so right? When you look at that you realise how the rest have screwed up so badly don’t you? I wonder what they make of all?

OP posts:
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8
KrisAkabusi · 31/12/2020 14:56

They had a proper lockdown and shut the borders. Strict rules that the UK decided would be unacceptable.

EarringsandLipstick · 31/12/2020 14:56

Huge country, small population, significantly dispersed, and it's about a 3 hour flight to anyone.

Of course they can do it - no-one can get in or out.

It's not comparable with eg Europe

Bellieberg · 31/12/2020 14:58

A combination of much larger population, incompetent government, apathy / a population that is willing to accept the equivalent of a full load of passengers Boeing 747 dying daily without holding its government to account but it's ok because Brexit got done.

Our family in NZ is absolutely horrified and baffled at the way things are being handled here.

StripeyDeckchair · 31/12/2020 14:59

They saw what was coming & acted decisively
They gave clear instructions
They had lockdown
Everyone obeyed the rules

The population is significantly smaller than the UK

Original poster
GoldenLabbie · 31/12/2020 14:59

@EarringsandLipstick

Huge country, small population, significantly dispersed, and it's about a 3 hour flight to anyone.

Of course they can do it - no-one can get in or out.

It's not comparable with eg Europe

Mainland Europe I agree, but we are an Island. We could have easily done the same.
OP posts:
Groundhogdayzz · 31/12/2020 15:00

All along I felt like we should have shut our borders and strict quarantine. Everything was (and still is) done too late here. Also hate to say it but as a nation we aren’t compliant and don’t do things for the greater good in the same way some other countries seem to. So many people haven’t followed government guidelines as it is, don’t think enough people would have gone along with stricter restrictions.

Bellieberg · 31/12/2020 15:00

@GoldenLabbie I agree - we're an island and could and should have done the same.

D4rwin · 31/12/2020 15:01

They acted very quickly and strictly. It's a small population but if other countries had taken the initiative at the sake infection point it wouldn't be gone but maybe more like the situation in China now where there are outbreaks swiftly dealt with.

Notgoingonholiday · 31/12/2020 15:01

My friend and her family live there and she said they only have to wear masks on public transport now, that is their only restriction. She feels sorry for what we're having to go through.
But as PP said, can't compare totally as such different countries...though we did also have the advantage of being an island and should have shut down sooner, but easy to look back now and judge I suppose.

backinthebox · 31/12/2020 15:02

Good article here. Basically, they had a plan for a pandemic lockdown before we had a pandemic, and acted on it promptly. Our government were advised to act expeditiously too, but dithered, allowed various large scale sporting events with overseas visitors in attendance, and missed the ‘act fast, act decisively’ window of opportunity. We are a different island to NZ, heavily dependent on freight from Europe, but NZ has managed to continue to allow freight in whilst keeping Covid out. They also have a charismatic leader who the people trust.

SoupDragon · 31/12/2020 15:03

[quote Bellieberg]@GoldenLabbie I agree - we're an island and could and should have done the same.[/quote]
We really couldn't. New Zealand has an entirely different geographical set up and population. No one could sneak there after a short boat ride to a deserted beach for example.

sashagabadon · 31/12/2020 15:03

We are getting part 2, the vaccine bit right though or as right as it is possible to get It under the circumstances. Nz are not really going to have enough of their population vaccinated until the autumn maybe Winter 2021 so are going to have their borders closed for some time or risk the virus getting in.
Likely most of the people there are ok with this. It probably is sustainable for another 12 months or so.
They also haven’t played any role in solving the problem. U.K. / US and Europe can be rightly proud of their contributions in treatments and of course the vaccines that will hopefully help everyone including New Zealand.
But I am happy for them and pleased somewhere in the world is celebrating new year.

satnighttakeaway · 31/12/2020 15:03

We could have easily done the same

We could have easily shut all the borders, sea, air, tunnel? No way.

Obviously it literally could be done but realistcally? I don't think so.

EssentialHummus · 31/12/2020 15:04

That’s what competent governance looks like.

Bellieberg · 31/12/2020 15:05

@SoupDragon but people sneaking in on boats hasn't been the problem. People flying in on planes and wandering through the airport and onto the underground without a single check has been.

I think it's flawed to say that because we can't do something exactly the same as another country means we shouldn't do anything at all. I had friends who were flying to countries who were at least taking address details and temperature of people entering the country. They were all quite surprised to get to Heathrow and just be waved through.

Bellieberg · 31/12/2020 15:07

@sashagabadon - I'm not sure I agree with this. There are plenty of NZ-born staff working in the NHS, including one of the two nurses who attended to our beloved leader?

MaskingForIt · 31/12/2020 15:08

@sashagabadon
Nz are not really going to have enough of their population vaccinated until the autumn maybe Winter 2021 so are going to have their borders closed for some time or risk the virus getting in.

Autumn 2021 begins in a month or so, so they aren’t really that far behind the U.K. as our vaccination programme is only just getting underway. They have a lot few people to vaccinate too.

AliceMcK · 31/12/2020 15:08

There are just over 4 million people in NZ spread across 2 islands. There had a proper lockdown, no messing around, supported my the majority of people. Borders were shut, they already have strong customs protocols so in some ways are generally better prepared for border controls. There also have a better self sufficient lifestyle over there, many home grown produce etc. They are also a very isolated country, there nearest neighbours being 2-3 hours away on a plane.

We have what 64million people approx, in a smaller land area so many of which have ignored the rules and had protests and mass gatherings because they didn’t want the lockdowns. Free movement between EU countries & the UK.

The UK never stood a chance.

Original poster
GoldenLabbie · 31/12/2020 15:09

I’m astonished that foreign travel has been allowed. Unless it’s absolutely essential then people shouldn’t have been allowed to leave the country. I just couldn’t believe how many people thought it was acceptable to still go on holiday abroad this year. Surely people can forgo a foreign holiday for one year?

OP posts:
sashagabadon · 31/12/2020 15:10

[quote Bellieberg]@sashagabadon - I'm not sure I agree with this. There are plenty of NZ-born staff working in the NHS, including one of the two nurses who attended to our beloved leader?[/quote]
I don’t mean individuals working in the U.K.. I mean the country itself. What has it done to contribute to the world effort?

middleager · 31/12/2020 15:10

A competent government that cares about people and not cronies.

FelicityPike · 31/12/2020 15:10

Boris and his shambles of failures to lock down properly to blame. We could have been clear too if we had closed the borders promptly and kept them closed! If we had had a proper tight lockdown. It’s our own stupid fault. The amount of folk on here...”I want to go on holiday”...

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 31/12/2020 15:11

@StripeyDeckchair

They saw what was coming & acted decisively They gave clear instructions They had lockdown Everyone obeyed the rules

The population is significantly smaller than the UK

We have so many that won’t wear masks, won’t SD, don’t follow the rules, won’t stay home, can’t forgo a holiday and so much moaning about restrictions that we were always going to have high spread.

Very envious of NZ, their residents and the handling of it.

middleager · 31/12/2020 15:12

And people taking it more seriously. I'm in Tier 4 and today was a joke in store.

Sertchgi123 · 31/12/2020 15:12

@EarringsandLipstick

Huge country, small population, significantly dispersed, and it's about a 3 hour flight to anyone.

Of course they can do it - no-one can get in or out.

It's not comparable with eg Europe

They have more sheep than people, in New Zealand.

I get sick of people comparing the UK with other countries. If you could control all the variables, then a comparison might be valid.

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