To the general population of New Zealand: be quiet
I lived in New Zealand for a long time, over 9 years. I still have contacts there. I am not living there now. I have contacts in some of the countries hardest hit by covid-19: France, Italy, Argentina.
You have nothing to complain about when it comes to covid-19. There is nothing specific to NZ that gives you the right to complain. You have had one month of hard lockdown and two weeks of lockdown which could be defined as 'soft'. You have one of the lowest confirmed cases and death tolls in the whole World. You have solid infrastructure when it comes to health. You have a competent government.
Yes, a lot of the economy comes from tourism. Yes, you have poverty. Yes, you have suicide, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy. But you do not have to deal with an incompetent government and/or healthcare system and/or covid at the same time. Take a look at Brazil. Take a look at Italy. Take a look at the US before President Joe Biden. Even the UK. Depending on the country, they not only have covid, but incompetent governments and a healthcare system that is not robust. They have been in lockdown two or three or even more times longer than you.
Out of 52 weeks you have had 4 weeks of really restricted freedom and 2 weeks of slightly restricted freedom.
I am not saying some of you have not lost jobs or not been infected. I am not saying you are not in debt. I am not saying your relationships have not suffered.
What I am saying is appreciate you have not been impacted as badly as many millions of other people. You live in a beautiful country which cares about its environment. You by and large have been able to go tramping, swimming, be physically around each other since covid appeared in January 2020. You also have enough space to have personal space and decent sized houses. Masks weren't ever mandatory, only highly recommended.
You also have Australia as a kind of 'buffer'. Covid has to get to them first before you - another layer of protection that delayed covid. Regardless of how you feel about the government's response to covid, you have Jacinda and she is a lady. This does make a difference, see the links at the bottom of this post from 'Happy Valentine's Day New Zealand', https://holandt.blogspot.com/2021/02/happy-valentines-day-new-zealand-3.html .
Many people want to travel, many people want financial stability. But realize you have been spared a lot because you are New Zealand. You might be one of the first places impacted by covid to recover. You also are not a tiny Pacific Island that is struggling partly because it is so small nor a gigantic country which is struggling because it is so large.
Everyone would like to live life like it was pre-pandemic. You have for the most part been able to do it. Even with your cases in 2021, some countries can only dream their spikes/resurgences could be like that.
I am not being mean. It's pers
I am employed, I have a roof over my head, I can pay my rent, I can put food on the table, I have disposable income, I have no experience of lockdown. I complain, but not about not being able to travel or the financial loss. I complain about the incompetency of the governments and the inequality of wealth causing problems with obtaining and distributing vaccines. A lot of governments have not handled covid well. Yours has, for the most part. Of course, it can do better. Governments always can. Yours, like everyone else's, should be financially supporting those who are struggling.
I try not to complain about the restrictions in place, because I know what I have. I am not the ones hit hardest: I can still live my middle-class lifestyle with the addition of a mask.
Yes, events with a lot of people have been postponed/cancelled/ changed, but at least you can go to each other's houses, make your own fun. Ask people in Italy and the UK how they can see their friends like during pre-pandemic life.
If anything, do you know what people say when I told them I was from NZ? The All Blacks and Lord of the Rings. NZ has no problems that make it stand out whether in a negative or positive light - it is not a big player on the political, economical, and any other platform that makes it a powerful player on the World stage.
Pike River, the Earthquakes, the Christchurch Mosque shooting don't pop into peoples' minds when I said I was from NZ.
You have it good New Zealand. You have for many, many years and likely many to come. Really open your eyes to that. If you still have a hard time understanding, read the news articles of some of the strongest and most vulnerable people fighting to contain covid. I am not in health, but I am pretty sure NZ frontline workers have not had anything of the scale these people have gone through and still have to experience.
Worry about your loved ones not in NZ. You can even worry about and miss the ones trying to get back, but don't let it take you over because ultimately, you cannot do anything. You have to wait for all the other places to contain covid. The best you can do is stay safe and healthy. When covid-19 is under control,
- A.M.
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