New Zealand begins virus-free life with hugs, shopping

People in New Zealand hugged and kissed, shopped, and planned parties on Tuesday as the country dropped all coronavirus restrictions for the first time in more than three months, while much of the rest of the world is still grappling with the pandemic.

The South Pacific nation of 5 million declared on Monday that it was free of the coronavirus, becoming one of the first countries in the world to return to pre-pandemic normality.

This meant no more limits on people in cafes, malls, stadiums, night clubs or public and private gatherings. Life, for the most part, is back to normal.

“I’m just walking in the city today and I’ve seen more people than I have seen in months,” said Steve Price of the capital, Wellington.

“People are shopping, dining and just hanging about holding hands … it’s so lovely to see,” he said.

New Zealanders are emerging from the pandemic while big economies such as Brazil, Britain, India and the United States continue to struggle with the virus.

Its largely due months of restrictions, including about seven weeks of a strict lockdown in which most businesses were shut and everyone except essential workers had to stay home.

Katy Ellis of Mojo Coffee in Wellington said her business has removed all the social distancing measures.

“That’s what allows us to have a lot more people in the café, it’s really helped generate that absolute buzz and that real feeling of more normality, really,” Ellis said.



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