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Original poster

Can someone explain to me New Zealand?

791 replies

idontknow54789 · 27/01/2022 20:45

Sorry for the ignorance/naivety here but can someone explain to me the reasonings behind such extreme lockdown measures in NZ? At the beginning of the pandemic they're approach was fully accepted but surely now with vaccines and omnicrom being a 'milder' form of covid they have to start setting sense? Is it about the health system? I understand there's a severe lack of ICU beds but is locking down so much really better for health? Can anyone explain it to me please?

OP posts:
Gennz18 · 02/02/2022 00:05

@spottygymbag so glad you were able to make it back although I take issue with feijoas being described as blissful 🤣

The foot dragging on MIQ is definitely political now … the Govt want the Omicron numbers to rise in the community rather than face any accusations that they let it in via dismantling MIQ. If our booster programme was further advance it would not be as much of an issue.

Of course the boosters have been delayed by the delayed vaccine rollout last year, when we were told repeatedly we shouldn’t be selfish and want to get vaccinated because we had eliminated Covid in NZ and should let other countries go first 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

windmillandcoffee · 02/02/2022 00:16

An awful lot of anti-Vaxers / wait-and-see-ers in NZ. Not surprised they're terrified of it spreading!

spottygymbag · 02/02/2022 01:53

@Gennz18 after all the waiting , rebooked flights and failed attempts the tangy grittiness of a real NZ feijoa was like heaven 😂

iloathhousework · 02/02/2022 06:20

@windmillandcoffee

An awful lot of anti-Vaxers / wait-and-see-ers in NZ. Not surprised they're terrified of it spreading!
According to The World in Data website 77.2% of the NZ population is fully vaccinated (as of 2 days ago). UK is 72% fully vaccinated. So, I'm not really sure where you get the idea that Kiwis as a whole are anti-vax.Smile
taxidermissy · 02/02/2022 06:49

*Like many many kiwis I took the opportunity to take an academic job abroad.
Now my visa has expired, my stuff is on a ship and my children are due to start school in NZ next week.

BUT I have not been able to get a MIQ spot for the six months I have tried.
We are all NZ citizens, all vaxed and should not be locked out while Jacinda allows non NZ musicians and sports people in.
I have been denied an exemption despite there being a category for not being able to stay in resident country.
NZEmbassy said to go to another country ! WTF*
Border announcements due tomorrow. Hopefully good news for my family.
Yesterday our 3rd application for an emergency MIQ allocation was denied. Despite all the media coverage of the Charlotte Bellis case, unless your story is media worthy it is just ignored by the NZ goverment.
The job in NZ, I am returning to ,has applied for a business MIQ space for me but the children won't be eligible.
So I guess I just leave them here ?
We have flights booked to go to the UK on tourist visas next week just in case we can't get back to our own country where we have a house, life and family.

Quartz2208 · 02/02/2022 09:24

I feel for you taxidermy I think however much the rest of New Zealands policy on COVID in the past has been right and how much of their current approach given their infrastructure is understandable. The part where citizens/New Zealand Nationals are stuck abroad is appalling. This isnt an immigration policy or opening the border up to tourism but something else/

And given that Omicron (both variants is there) and community spread is rising that bit no longer makes sense

TheKeatingFive · 02/02/2022 09:35

I do not think it should be allowed to leave citizens stranded like this. Appalling. Have there been any legal challenges?

spottygymbag · 02/02/2022 10:24

Tomorrows border announcements have come too late for us. My DF passed away in Thailand by himself last night as we were unable to get him home. His health took a massive turn for the worse and we could not get him back to be with us, have us go to him, or receive appropriate end of life care.
I will mourn him alone in Australia, while the rest of my family is in NZ. Hopefully we can have a memorial in the not too distant future.

VikingOnTheFridge · 02/02/2022 10:53

@spottygymbag

Tomorrows border announcements have come too late for us. My DF passed away in Thailand by himself last night as we were unable to get him home. His health took a massive turn for the worse and we could not get him back to be with us, have us go to him, or receive appropriate end of life care. I will mourn him alone in Australia, while the rest of my family is in NZ. Hopefully we can have a memorial in the not too distant future.
How awful.
Quartz2208 · 02/02/2022 11:20

I am so sorry spottygymbag

Lilifer · 02/02/2022 13:00

I'll explain NZ in 3 words ... Abuse of Power

MapleMay11 · 02/02/2022 13:41

@spottygymbag I'm so very sorry to hear your news. You're in my thoughts today.

taxidermissy · 02/02/2022 16:47

spottygymbag That is absolutely dreadful. I am so sorry.
The NZ government has a lot to answer for.

MapleMay11 · 02/02/2022 17:17

According to The World in Data website 77.2% of the NZ population is fully vaccinated (as of 2 days ago). UK is 72% fully vaccinated.
So, I'm not really sure where you get the idea that Kiwis as a whole are anti-vx

But the difference in the proportion of the population who has received a single booster dose is stark: UK = 56% vs NZ = 27%. Is that due to reluctance among the population or Jacinda Ardern's failure to roll out the booster campaign adequately?

iloathhousework · 02/02/2022 19:01

@MapleMay11

*According to The World in Data website 77.2% of the NZ population is fully vaccinated (as of 2 days ago). UK is 72% fully vaccinated. So, I'm not really sure where you get the idea that Kiwis as a whole are anti-vx*

But the difference in the proportion of the population who has received a single booster dose is stark: UK = 56% vs NZ = 27%. Is that due to reluctance among the population or Jacinda Ardern's failure to roll out the booster campaign adequately?

My initial response was to the poster who said NZers were anti-vax and therefore frightened of the virus. I was merely pointing out that this assumption is incorrect based on the vaccination numbers.
Gennz18 · 02/02/2022 19:49

Oh my god @spottygymbag - I am so so sorry.

spottygymbag · 02/02/2022 21:08

Thanks all. I'm well aware there are so so many people worldwide who have been through similar. It's just so frustrating and incredibly sad we couldn't anything beyond provide financial assistance to cover anything he needed, and keep working through ways to bring him back. An exhausting final 6months to be sure.
Looks like Australian based citizens will be able to return from 28 Feb with some type of self isolation. Had a quick chat with DH and have decided if 24days of iso is still required for close contacts we will not be going. It just wouldn't be feasible. We'll see closer to the time.
March 13- NZ citizens from elsewhere can return, followed by non-citizens with visas in April. July is non citizens from visa waiver countries and everyone else from October.
I hope they stick to this in some form although I don't have much faith given how the other border dates have been shifted along the way and there is a disclaimer saying they will check this on 20 Feb and make any necessary adjustments.
Details to be announced at 11am nz time today.

shiningcuckoo · 03/02/2022 04:21

Just want to say ... it isn't Jacinda. It's the NZ government that makes decisions. NZ is not some kind of one woman show.

SquirrelG · 03/02/2022 06:23

@shiningcuckoo - I have been saying that on various threads for ages. People seem to have a strange idea about how the NZ government works!

MapleMay11 · 03/02/2022 07:59

@shiningcuckoo

Just want to say ... it isn't Jacinda. It's the NZ government that makes decisions. NZ is not some kind of one woman show.
Jacinda Ardern is a grossly overpaid, underperforming leader who is ultimately accountable for all of her government's failings.
Quartz2208 · 03/02/2022 08:55

That is a fairly common thing though - Boris Johnson, Trump, Putin, Bolsonaro, Macron, Merkel all tend to be the figurehead and therefore get the blame or the praise. I dont think it is specific to the New Zealand Government

SquirrelG · 03/02/2022 09:32

Jacinda Ardern is a grossly overpaid, underperforming leader who is ultimately accountable for all of her government's failings.

Oh get over yourself - like you could do better! I am so sick of people whining.

Bluebellsunderthetrees · 03/02/2022 09:47

@spottygymbag So sorry about your Dad. Such an awful situation.

MapleMay11 · 03/02/2022 10:09

@SquirrelG

Jacinda Ardern is a grossly overpaid, underperforming leader who is ultimately accountable for all of her government's failings.

Oh get over yourself - like you could do better! I am so sick of people whining.

Whining is also known as fair criticism.
treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 10:20

@shiningcuckoo

Just want to say ... it isn't Jacinda. It's the NZ government that makes decisions. NZ is not some kind of one woman show.
Fair enough, but do/did you apply the same approach to the likes of Boris or Trump? (Both of whom I very much dislike btw)
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