At a Safe Distance
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Having arrived in New Zealand before the Covid pandemic I was subsequently locked-down in and around the town of Coromandel in north New Zealand. Restrictions were similar to those in the UK. To not travelling outside the town environs, or undertake dangerous activity etc. and, importantly, to keep at a safe distance from other people.
This set of photographs was taken during this time and reflects my experience of lockdown in a small town (population 1860), during many weeks of walking out and about within a few miles of the town, keeping my distance as advised.
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Further information below images
At A Safe Distance
Arriving in New Zealand in February 2020 there were rumours of a dangerous virus, which was spreading. Travelling mainly through relatively sparsely populated areas we were not made aware of its escalation until arriving in Wellington. In 72 hours everyone had to decide where to travel to remain locked down for the duration, assumed to be perhaps 2 - 3 weeks! We travelled back up north to Coromandel to stay in a wood cabin we had leased earlier on our arrival in the country. There we remained awaiting a (non-existent) flight home, for many weeks.
We listened to the clear instructions and the calm but firm leadership of the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, which contrasted with the chaotic and contradictory advice by |Boris Johnson in the UK, as seen on the BBC World Service. We felt fortunate being locked down in, probably, the safest place to be so.
Coromandel is an old gold-mining town named after the British ship which landed there in 1720. It is now visited by a significant number of tourists, but was empty of them during lockdown. Shops, parks, bars and the police station were closed. As elsewhere the locals stayed at home doing long-postponed jobs such as house painting, land clearing or gardening. Coming across people other than in the shop queue, was rare.
Teddy bears were a local sign of solidarity in isolation, to brighten the mood and give children a game to play spotting them. It seems it was inspired by the British author, Michael Rosen’s book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!
The usual ANZAC commemorations, as significant as those of 11th November Armistice Day, were cancelled of course, so people shared their feelings with a profusion of poppies and similar individual memorials.