As New Zealand prepares to ease its lockdown from April 28, new COVID-19 clusters are likely to emerge – but a combination of testing and contact tracing should be able to stamp out major outbreaks.
The Conversation is expanding our New Zealand coverage by appointing Finlay Macdonald – an award-winning journalist, editor, publisher and broadcaster – as our NZ Editor: Politics, Business + Arts.
On Monday, New Zealand will announce if it’s ready to relax some of its COVID-19 restrictions – among the strictest in the world. Based on international and local data, I argue it’s time; here’s why.
New Zealand’s COVID-19 elimination strategy has been a collective success, involving ‘ordinary’ Kiwis and unity across political divides. Ending lockdown and a looming election will test that unity.
As someone who researches and teaches leadership, I’d argue New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is giving most Western politicians a masterclass in crisis leadership.
Jon MacKay, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Automated text messages if your phone detects you’re a long way from home, or discounted home internet, are just a few possible technology solutions to make New Zealanders “stay home to save lives”.
The Christchurch gunman’s surprise guilty plea makes him the first person convicted of terrorism in New Zealand. A legal expert explains what will happen next in the sentencing process.
Overjoyed. That’s not a word epidemiologists normally use, but that’s how I felt after hearing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement of New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown from Wednesday night.
Tens of thousands of New Zealanders don’t have secure or adequate accommodation – so how can they safely self-isolate in NZ’s lockdown? But there are solutions – and here’s where to start.
A scholar who has reviewed the efforts of nations around the world to protect their citizens from foreign interference says there is no magic solution, but there’s plenty to learn and do.
To guard against coronavirus, NZ should consider a short “pulse” (a few weeks) of intense social distancing, including bringing forward school holidays and temporary closures of most businesses.
New Zealand will spend NZ$12.1 billion – or 4% of its GDP – to support businesses, increase benefits for seniors and low-income families, pay people in self-isolation, and boost health care capacity.
Haji-Daoud Nabi was a lifelong friend, who helped inspire my research in Afghanistan on how violent events shape people’s sense of community. I never thought my work would one day apply at home in NZ.
My assessment is that there are about 150 to 300 core right-wing activists in New Zealand. This might sound modest – but proportionate to population, it’s similar to extremist numbers in Germany.
Tracing politicians’ use of the term ‘housing crisis’ reveals it came into common use only in recent years, and then only by opposition MPs. Governments prefer to frame the issues differently.
December 25 is the least popular day to give birth in the US, Australia and New Zealand, and second only to Boxing Day on Dec. 26 in England, Wales and Ireland.
This newly discovered species is the oldest one known to resemble today’s penguins in both size and leg proportions, unlike its giant co-habitants at the time.
Unlike Canada’s newly elected House of Commons, New Zealand’s parliament reflects the will of voters. So do other proportional representation systems. Canada has plenty of choice.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University
Faculty Member, Asian Studies Program, Georgetown University; Visiting Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University., Georgetown University