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

[GoldenLabbie]

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?

I think it's somewhere in between.

It is hard to compare countries like New Zealand to the UK. However, comparing us to a country like Germany and we still don't look good and they have a larger population which borders different countries.

My sister lives in Australia which also has a decent record and they had much stricter measurements. When she moved states for a new job she had to self isolate for two weeks but the difference to here is that the police actually visited her and warned her that they could return at anytime within the two weeks to check she's obeying the law. Nothing like that happens here.

I’ve lived in NZ and yeah, I’d agree it’s a wonderful place. However, NZ and the U.K. aren’t comparable.

NZ’s population is a tiny fraction of the UK’s and things are much more spaced out. Also, it’s summer there now as opposed to winter here so the seasonal situations aren’t comparable either.

In addition, don’t kid yourself that no international travel is a bed of roses for them. Some people will be really struggling as a result of not being able to leave the country or have others come in. As well as that, tourism is a very, very big deal in NZ. The place is usually teeming with backpacker and other people who’ve visited to enjoy all it has to offer. The industries supported by those tourists currently have no trade.

They aren’t perfect either.

Well New Zealand has a population less than that of London and similar size to the UK it's really not comparable ,but so many people here won't even follow the basic rules or wear a mask it's not surprising how badly we have been affected .

@helloxhristmas actually their economy is doing better than ever before, see here. The pound is the lowest against the NZD than it ever has been.

Woman PM, good old JacArd!

@Mrsfrumble the link is that people fly out for holidays and come back don't comply with the rules of self isolating.

It should be like other countries where if you fly in your escorted to a choice of a few hotels and self isolage for 14 days before you can continue your holiday. And its ensured you don't leave.

However that will never be accepted and possibly logistically too hard to do as we lots of airports.

There qas an article back in March about why we haven't shut the borders and one other reason qas the tourism industry being £20billion. That's a big industry to destroy completely and not to mention knock on effects to suppliers etc.

While we could not have done exactly the same, we certainly could have got a better grip over the summer when numbers were lower. No holidays, proper testing system and responding to the obvious fact that the three main symptoms were absolutely not the only indicator. Anyone feeling unwell at all should have been tested during summer with low numbers. Instead, we had people mixing and going to school with covid because they definitely had a cold or stomach bug. The evidence was there!

I'm not, given their response to Covid 19.

I agree they are different given space, population etc. Though even taking all those into account, their response has been light years ahead of Mr Johnson's.

They have Jacinda, we have Boris

Mainland Europe I agree, but we are an Island. We could have easily done the same.

I'm in Ireland, so it's a bit different (and thankfully, while not perfect, our Government has managed not to make a hames of things in the same way as BoJo & co) but 2 words that many in the UK seem to forget ...

Northern. Ireland.

How would you close off borders in that instance?

My dad lives in NZ, he said they have 4.5m vaccines on order for pop 5m. So they should be golden.

On order yes... delivery matters though doesn't it. Look at the distributions problems already in Europe. It's extremely complicated.

Anyone really tempted to emigrate to NZ? I have a friend there who is very much into fitness and has been doing marathons and all sorts. It's like a different planet! Wish I was there right now

A very high percentage (%age varies according to source but minimum 50%) of our food is imported and then distributed around the country, mostly by road. A full border lockdown would have meant huge shortages in many basic food items.

It is easy to be wise in hindsight, to say XYZ should have been done. I find it interesting how quiet former prime ministers have been over the last months. Mainly I think because they are all sitting thinking 'Thank God this didnt happen on my watch'.

Honestly it was not easy unless NZ decided in Jan early Feb to close borders. That’s when U.K. would have had to do it to be equivalent, maybe earlier.

Look at the curve and consider who was hit first.

'Mainland Europe I agree, but we are an Island. We could have easily done the same.'

As others have said they have a tiny population, very low pop density, it's like saying how come the Isles of Scilly are in tier 1 and the rest of us in tier 4 🙄.

Comparing NZ to the U.K. is like comparing grapes with pineapples.
A much smaller population more thinly spread, a long flight from anywhere else, and typically with way fewer people entering the country annually anyway.

If you want to compare like to more-or-less like, look at e.g. France.

It’s not just about being an island it’s about timing.

My sister lives in Australia which also has a decent record and they had much stricter measurements.

Yes, they are issuing on the spot fines of $15,000 for infringements. If you can't pay I think it's a deduction of tax credits or similar, you'll basically pay it no question.

I wish we had quarantining for those coming in from the first lockdown onwards. It is frustrating that we have given up so much when people were allowed to fly in and mix straight away.

Same in Guernsey - no restrictions whatsoever - haven’t been for a long time because they have an effective system. Surprised it’s not been in the papers more. Jersey on the other hand.....

It is inspiring far to complex and efficient in comparison to Europe.
Ireland is going into full lockdown tomorrow there was crowds queuing in Dublin City for clothes stores.
I went food shopping early there was a large queue when I was leaving the fear in many older people's face was awful.

Compare with NYC, Italy, Spain, Germany

Not with countries that offer little comparison for situation

Like others said. Huge country, miles from anywhere, small population shut the borders (IMO we should have done this too no fucking foreign holidays for a start). One of the few countries not to be overpopulated

I have close school friends who live over there. I've been seeing photos of normality for months. They had a proper lockdown including closing the border.

'A much smaller population more thinly spread, a long flight from anywhere else, and typically with way fewer people entering the country annually anyway.'

Yes in a highly infectious disease our 64m compared to their 5m is really very relevant plus logistics regarding location.

I mean good on them I'm pleased there having an easy ride but let's not pretend it's anything other than population size and pop density.