Can someone explain to me New Zealand?

[idontknow54789]

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?

Dare I hope for a visit back home in December with my British husband and kids?

Problem is, I don't trust the NZ govt not to shit the bed again and close the borders with no warning. No travel insurance that I can see will cover cancellation due to border closures st destination.

Continued misery for NZ's tourism industry

The rise in Omicron cases in NZ over the past week seems to be exponential, even if numbers are currently low compared to elsewhere. Short of a China-style lockdown, the rise will surely continue, and NZ's much vaunted status as being somewhere with very low rates will be shattered once and for all just like Australia's was so dramatically a month or so back. Even if they go heavy on the restrictions such as masks, isolation and the like, experience from elsewhere shows this won't have much impact.and will only make the increase a little less steep. The complete reliance on vaccine-derived immunity won't help at all.

I'd expect some political fireworks over the next fortnight as Covid explodes there, as they surely will. The super-strict travel restrictions will then be futile as NZ is forced to abandon its zero-Covid mantra.

I wouldn't be surprised if the collective shock to the system will lead to Jacinda Ardern being forced out.

@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.

I think it is entirely inappropriate if you had read the thread for you to say that some of the fair criticisms that posters have had about how New Zealand have handled closed borders to citizens given the repercussions of it.

New Zealand have done many things right in this pandemic. More so that the UK. Both though should be held accountable for those areas which they didnt get right and continue not to do so.

There needs to be an inquiry as to how covid related deaths are calculated.
The testing positive within 28 days but dying of something else isn’t an accurate picture IMO.
Plus the constant fear monger tactics by governments and main stream media to scare.
Another big enquiry needed.

On average 450 people a day die of cancer in the uk. What about these people?

An enquiry is needed as to why locking down healthy young people was necessary.
A latest study suggests lockdowns cut deaths down by 0.2% but crushed the economy and peoples mental health

@Lolamento

Are people happy with the government about this? Sounds terrible and abusive.

Gosh the tabloids have done a number on you, endlessly criticising NZ to deflect from the appalling handling of the pandemic in the UK.

In reality we are living normally and have been for months. The vax rate is at around 92%. Only 52 people have died throughout the pandemic here.

We wear masks indoor in public places, and we still social distance.

We've had an epic summer, so many people out enjoying the beaches and bush.

We have our share of moaners and conspiracy theorists, also stark cases of misogyny heaping criticism on Ardern for having the audacity to lead so brilliantly.

The response has not been perfect, there have been a few missteps, but by God it's been good, we have been incredibly well looked after.

The zero COVID thing was dropped months ago; it's very tedious to see this trotted out repeatedly. It worked with aloha, it couldn't with Delta.

Managed isolation has been controversial but sure has delivered the goods. It is now being phased out as vax rates are v high and everyone knows what to do.

Everyone I know is grateful to live in what feels like an incredibly fortunate and safe haven. It's weird to see the negativity levelled at us from people in the other side of the world. Mostly we just laugh at the arrogance.

I bloody love Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, Chris Hopkins et al, extremely decent people who just keep delivering.

JA is an extraordinary politician. She doesn't engage in dirty politics and is endlessly positive. In her own words, "relentlessly positive". She's as tough as nails, extremely sharp and articulate, and has dealt to a series of crises with aplomb.

Borders opening up gradually and we'll be able to welcome back whānau and friends, something everyone is looking forward to.

@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.

It would be boring is it wasn't so grossly misogynistic.

@sweetbellyhigh why is it misogynistic? What has her gender got to do with anything? She's the leader of a country, leaders of countries have both admirers and critics - are we to treat women leaders differently and not criticise them for fear of being labelled misogynists now? I suppose anyone who ever criticised Margaret Thatcher or Angela Merkel is misogynistic too🤔

Pathetic

Misogynistic?!

By that logic women haven’t progressed at all if we have to say “jolly well done” about everything they do, and “you did really very well indeed.” You might as well add “… for a woman” on the end.

So true!

Some politicians are just not up to the job, sometimes those not up to the job policiticians happen to be female - shock horror new news!

I dont think the UK tabloid press has deflected - it barely mentions New Zealand - far too preoccupied with the Downing Street Party Saga and fuel price increase

The fact is though stopping citizens coming back - particularly if as you say zero covid was dropped months ago is a policy that should be debated because it has been a disgraceful one with even on this thread appalling consequences

I think it is entirely inappropriate if you had read the thread for you to say that some of the fair criticisms that posters have had about how New Zealand have handled closed borders to citizens given the repercussions of it.

I have read the full thread, and I'm not without sympathy for some of the posters. However, I have been around a fair while and know that life is often not fair - and that constant whining does absolutely nothing to help matters! I'm sick of the same old thing being trotted out on every thread about NZ.

*@SquirrelG * You may well be sick of it but everyone is entitled to express their opinion.

@sweetbellyhigh - great post!

I bloody love Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, Chris Hopkins et al, extremely decent people who just keep delivering.

Haven't heard anyone say that about any UK politicians lately.

Much of the NZ response has been excellent, but the MIQ process has been a shambles. Hotels are in no way fit for purpose, and have caused the community cases that have occurred. Transporting people to some of them has put those people at risk, as much as 4 hours on a bus. The varying standards of accommodation have been a source of insecurity and inequity, as has the lottery system to access a slot. There is a purpose built quarantine facility up and running in Melbourne already; NZ has the ideal space for this at Ohakea airforce base. If the NZ government had done more to improve the MIQ system and make it accessible, implement a proper queue system, had adequate emergency allocation and made the system for emergency allocation humane, not charged exhorbitant sums for MIQ...their approach might have been humane, sensible and overall commendable. Given that 1 million Kiwis lived overseas at the beginning of the pandemic, it is a full 1/6th of the overall population that had family ties severely curtailed, and their right to come home abrogated. That's not a small number.

At last, with NZ borders opening to NZ citizens from abroad (Australian based
sooner) on 17th March, we can get on with our lives. I do feel the Charlotte Bellis revelation forced the governments hand.
I won't forgot or forgive the NZ government for the inequality over MIQ and have donated to the grounded kiwis court fund to put this on trial.

Sweetbellyhigh I totally agree with you. It's very tedious having to constantly correct people who have swallowed the crap fed to them by the tabloids. To the pp who says we are seeing exponential spread in NZ, that is not yet happening. It is probably on its way but so far cases are tracking way lower than they were predicted to be at this stage. A week ago I was expecting around 500 daily cases by now. We are currently at around 200. I'm sure schools opening this week will help.speed things along soon enough.

@taxidermissy

At last, with NZ borders opening to NZ citizens from abroad (Australian based sooner) on 17th March, we can get on with our lives. I do feel the Charlotte Bellis revelation forced the governments hand. I won't forgot or forgive the NZ government for the inequality over MIQ and have donated to the grounded kiwis court fund to put this on trial.

The Charlotte Bellis circus did not force the government's hand. This was well planned and expected.

Ummm wow @sweetbellyhigh (I like your name btw) I don’t really recognise anything in your post. I live in Auckland and voted for JA/Labour in 2017 and 2020.

I think Jacinda is a fundamentally decent person but I am very very disillusioned with this Government - the Covid response and the total failure to address housing affordability and inequality (and I say that as someone who has done well out of the crazily skyrocketing house prices).

The Auckland lockdown last year was a fuckup, as has been MIQ over recent months. I don’t see myself voting Labour at the next election.

We are definitely experiencing exponential spread, 209 cases today and less than a week ago it was 100. That is exponential. It will be thousands within weeks. Que sera. It has to happen.

Have any of the UK based critics actually watched a jacinda ardern presser? Cos she is all over the detail of COVID and communicates well. The polls here generally show support for her government. Add in this week's record low unemployment figures and so much of the criticism she's getting here is totally unfounded.

I'm almost loath to suggest you look at your own leadership.

@Gennz18

We are definitely experiencing exponential spread, 209 cases today and less than a week ago it was 100. That is exponential. It will be thousands within weeks. Que sera. It has to happen.

Do you have the slightest idea what exponential means?

Ahh … yes?

What do you think it means?

@Gennz18

Ahh … yes?

What do you think it means?

I think it describes a parameter changing at a rate proportional to the current magnitude of that parameter.

What do you think it means?