Kiwis have responded to abroad criticism that strict lockdown guidelines have made New Zealand a “hellhole” with attribute sarcastic humour.
An offshore Twitter account, with 7500 followers, likened Aotearoa to hell on Earth, saying on Sunday: “You’ll be able to’t depart. And you’ll’t simply have folks in. And also you’re again in lockdown in main elements of the nation. And the quarantine camps are public data.”
A subsequent tweet from the account stated New Zealanders appear to “assume that the intense authoritarianism in New Zealand is ok. Do they consider covid will likely be eradicated globally or are they content material to stay in a police state eternally?”
BROOK SABIN/Stuff.co.nz
Kiwis shared photos of famend magnificence spots corresponding to Mt Maunganui and hidden gems in response to the put up labelling New Zealand as a ‘hellhole’
New Zealanders shortly jumped to the nation’s defence, with tweets containing the “NZhellhole” hashtag numbering greater than 12,700.
READ MORE:
* Covid-19 hysteria-making does our team of five million a disservice
* We can all do our part to halt the onslaught of Covid-19 misinformation
* Coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern’s response to Donald Trump? Look at the Covid-19 case numbers
“Terrible day right here within the #NZHellhole,” one person wrote. “The Nelson Market was cancelled so needed to get fresh-baked bread and natural sausages from the Farmers’ Market as an alternative. Off for a stroll in native bush this afternoon and possibly go to a film. O the tyranny of this jackbooted regime.”
“Unsure how for much longer I can tolerate this place,” one other person wrote. “Issues got here to a head on Friday when the federal government emailed to inform me they wished to present me some extra money. The compassionate, useful b…….”
Many customers shared footage of the surroundings, meals and drinks they’re having fun with whereas Auckland is in degree three lockdown, with its residents confined to their native areas, and the remainder of the nation is at degree two and in a position to journey.
“We’ve escaped confinement and are on the run! Ship assist! #nzHellhole,” one particular person wrote, together with footage of walkers taking in views of Auckland metropolis from Mt Eden.
These in Authorities-managed isolation amenities additionally received in on the act, ridiculing the “quarantine camp” label.
“Inside my quarantine camp hell,” one particular person stated, sharing footage of what regarded like a comparatively spacious resort room. “A king-size mattress only for me and the way dare the TV be so giant! Thank goodness for the free wifi so I might vent my spleen.”
The put up labelling New Zealand a hellhole got here only a day after US president Donald Trump said New Zealand’s newest Covid-19 neighborhood outbreak was uncontrolled, regardless of information proving in any other case.
His statements have raised many eyebrows, with Auckland mayor Phil Goff saying we had been “considerably mystified” by them.
Requested about Trump’s feedback at Friday’s press convention, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern drew upon statistics to name him out on them.
She stated New Zealand was amongst a small variety of international locations that also had a low fee of Covid-19 circumstances, and has one of many lowest Covid dying charges on this planet.
“To provide you only one instance, the US has 16,563 circumstances per million folks. We’ve got 269 circumstances per million folks.”
New Zealand is “certainly one of many international locations world wide” coping with a resurgence of Covid-19, she stated, including that, comparatively talking, it’s “on a really, very small scale”.
“Our strategy to Covid has been completely different to different international locations nevertheless it’s an strategy I believe we will all really feel very happy with.”
The Authorities is predicted to announce on Monday whether or not alert ranges will change.