stuff.co.nz informed me, not rnz.co.nz (my usual source), the expected 1 pm update was written and there would be a 4 pm visual update. The minute I read the Prime Minister would be there and not Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, I thought, big news was coming. Spoiler alert, there was no extension of the level alert, no up or down of it, no extension or re-start of the travel bubble.
The below didn't do me any good.
Well, Jacinda Ardern was very dynamic, and did a lot of the talking - it seemed like she had come in wearing invisible armour to respond to the reporters. However, she did smile a lot and so did Chris Hipkins. Not only that, she was bombarded with questions of all topics unrelated to covid-19: hate speech, sexual violence, spies in New Zealand. Maybe it wasn't a coincidence Chris Hipkins was there, as he is the Minister of Education. Big Potato and Chris Hipkins can handle a lot of the covid questions and he is the Minister for Education.
It did irritate me, if that's the right word, that Jacinda didn't always let people finish and would jump in. One time in particular, she said Chris Hipkins could respond and she basically did instead.
It was the first time Jacinda had participated at this round of updates, as in for this latest covid national impact, and so the first time I've seen her live. As I said, she was dynamic. She also seemed keen to talk. It could have been the lighting/camera angle etc., but she also looked worn down and tired. Yes, I know that's to be expected not just in politics but during covid, but still. I reckon she must have aged too - if she looks at photos from two-three years ago, hell, even a year ago, she must have changed.
Not that I've watched a lot of politicians on TV or inside the Houses of Parliament anywhere, but Jacinda was also sympathetic, which was nice, as politicians' main job description is to run the place they work for and emotion, especially personal emotion, isn't always good in decision-making for leading a population you're responsible for.
One note I have about people who had/have return flights and are now stuck in Australia. To everyone: reporters, the people it has happened to, their loved ones in Australia and New Zealand etc. Maybe not the under-18s who are not legally responsible for themselves. You chose to travel. Regardless of what the Kiwi government told you or not, and the reason you travelled (even if it's for serious health issues or a death), now is not a good time to travel with no expectation or even consideration you may get stuck somewhere you don't want to. I have said this in another post, which I will not put a link of in this post, otherwise it will distract more than me 'saying' it now. You are the one most impacted. You have to suck up the consequences. The people with power will not budge. If you can't suck up the cost, which is most likely financial, then don't fucking travel.
I have said this before too, previously: vaccines won't help us travel. Worst-case scenario: you have had two doses and are medically fully vaccinated. You travel somewhere and find yourself stuck because borders shut down. Do you really think you being vaccinated will open up the borders? Fuck no. To expand, if every single person on planet Earth is vaccinated, will we live like it was pre-covid-19? Will we travel like we did pre-covid? No. Not everyone will be vaccinated at the same time, not everyone will be vaccinated, you can be re-infected, the possibility of you being stuck will still exist, even if it's small. But you could be the person it happens to.
To end, I think all the below are enjoyable (I don't think I missed all the ones I found funny), https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/445682/government-to-consider-mandatory-masks-qr-code-scanning-pm-jacinda-ardern:
5m33 - I feel you Chris; I almost thought your voice was going to 'break' quite soon after
9m
28m25
30m25
34m50 - "once more with enthusiasm" is what Jacinda says.
- A.M.
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