Popular UK breakfast host Phillip Schofield is facing backlash from hundreds of Kiwis for misrepresenting Aotearoa's COVID-19 strategy on national television.
Schofield, who has UK and New Zealand citizenship, told more than a million British viewers on ITV's This Morning Show New Zealand is moving backwards.
"The rest of the world is moving forward, while it feels like New Zealand is moving backwards."
The breakfast host continued his analysis into New Zealand's COIVD-19 strategy, adding the country is closed.
"The streets are empty, the New Zealand tourist trade is finished, the country is essentially closed."
One said on Twitter Schofield's comments were rubbish.
"This is the biggest load of rubbish I've seen, Mount Maunganui is heaving and we're all alive."
"Here in the Bay of Plenty everyday people are travelling to use the mountain bike trails, it's heaving, the shops are busy, cafes are busy, the roads are busy. Life is happening," another added.
Schofield's comments were made during an interview with The Telegraph journalist Camilla Tominey, who says the move to red traffic light setting was "state control on steroids".
"I mean, Ardern is left-wing. She perhaps wants to prioritise public health over New Zealand's probably failing economy.
Under the red settings workplaces, shops, restaurants and cafes are all open.
Red is not a lockdown and instead face masks, vaccine passes and gathering limits are used to help minimise the spread while allowing vaccinated Kiwis the freedom to continue mostly as normal.
