World reacts to New Zealand’s Covid crackdown over nine cases

New Zealand has been a world-beater when it comes to keeping Covid at bay, but Jacinda Arderns’s latest crackdown has divided many.

Ben Graham

@bengrahamjourno

3 min read

January 25, 2022 - 9:27AM

Jacinda Ardern postpones wedding after imposing new COVID restrictions

After more than two years of the Covid pandemic, New Zealand has once again imposed strict restrictions over a just a handful of cases, and it has the rest of the world talking.

Our neighbours across the Tasman, and their leader Jacinda Ardern, have been praised throughout the past couple of years for keeping the virus at bay.

Now Ms Ardern’s latest move has earned her even more applause from her fans – particularly as she cancelled her own wedding.

However, others see the new crackdown as a step too far.

In the UK, where there is immense pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step down over a perceived lack of leadership on Covid, the move by New Zealand has particularly stirred debate.

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Picture: Mark Mitchell-Pool/Getty Images

Controversial British media personality Piers Morgan appeared to criticise the New Zealand Prime Minister.

“Given over 90 per cent of New Zealand’s eligible population has had at least two doses of Covid vaccine, and Omicron is indisputably a significantly less severe strain of the virus, I’m not sure why Jacinda Ardern is implementing draconian new restrictions and cancelling her wedding?” he said on Twitter.

Some of his followers pointed out that the UK would do well to take guidance from New Zealand’s attempts to stop the Covid spread.

Given over 90% of New Zealandâ€™s eligible population has had at least 2 doses of covid vaccine, and Omicron is indisputably a significantly less severe strain of the virus, Iâ€™m not sure why Jacinda Ardern is implementing draconian new restrictions & cancelling her wedding?
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 23, 2022

“NZ have had 52 deaths from Covid. That’s not 52 thousand – it’s just 52. Considering the UK has had over 150,000 what’s your question again?” one person wrote.

“It’s called common sense. History will show that her leadership has been pretty much exemplary,” added another.

Responding to the tightening of measures in New Zealand, British MP Mark Jenkinson wrote: “Thank the Lord we’re in the UK.”

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, added that the restrictions equated to “left-wing insanity in New Zealand”.

Life's not be great here but fancy being a New Zealander where the nutcase lefty PM Jacinda Ardern has imposed new restrictions after just 9 Omicron cases were discovered. As an act of solidarity she has delayed her wedding. The groom is luckier than the nation. He is still free.
— Kelvin MacKenzie (@kelvmackenzie) January 23, 2022

â€˜Oh, such is lifeâ€™ Well, no. This is the decision Jacinda Ardern has taken despite 90 per cent of her countrymen & women being vaccinated and Omicron clearly less potent. But she continues on path of zero tolerance, which given we may be living with the virus for yearsâ€¦ https://t.co/cgHMHfbXwz
— Emily Sheffield (@emilysheffield) January 23, 2022

However, Ms Arden has also received praise for setting an example in her leadership, even if it means suffering a personal sacrifice, by postponing her wedding.

Jacinda Ardern just cancelled her own wedding to help slow Omicron. Thatâ€™s leadership. â€œSuch is life. I am no different to, dare I say, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic.â€
How many parties did our PM host or attend? pic.twitter.com/nx6WVXluOf
— Damian Barr (@Damian_Barr) January 23, 2022

After hearing how Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her wedding due to covid, stating she is no different to anyone else in New Zealand, I feel compelled to say "What outstanding leadership". Shame we don't have the same leadership in the UK.
— SH (@BeTheChange1972) January 23, 2022

On Sunday, Ms Ardern was forced to call off her own wedding as she tightened Covid-19 restrictions in the face of an outbreak of the Omicron variant.

It came after there were nine confirmed cases of the variant detected earlier this month from a family who travelled between cities, flying into Auckland for a wedding, as well as the infection of a flight attendant on the aircraft they flew on.

It was enough to see the country impose its “red setting” restrictions from midnight Sunday.

These include limits on crowd numbers, including a limit of 100 fully vaccinated people at events, as well as mandatory face coverings on public transport and in shops.

“My wedding will not be going ahead,” she confirmed after detailing the new restrictions.

“I just joined many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who is caught up in that scenario I am so sorry.”

Jacinda Ardern with her fiance Clarke Gayford. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Ms Ardern and long-time partner Clarke Gayford have never announced their wedding date, but it was believed to be scheduled for some time in the next few weeks.

The new restrictions are set to remain in place until at least the end of next month.

“Such is life,” the New Zealand leader said when asked how she felt about setting regulations which ended her planned nuptials.

“I’m no different to thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill. That will far outstrip any sadness I experience.”