The Prime Minister has revealed one of the biggest decisions she's made during the COVID-19 pandemic so far, with NZ just over the halfway stage of its planned four-week lockdown.
In an interview with the Coronavirus NZ podcast by Stuff, Jacinda Ardern says one of the biggest moments was implementing New Zealand's border restrictions.
One of the initial measures put in place last month was announcing the requirement that everyone entering New Zealand must self-isolate for 14 days.
"That felt huge," Ardern told Stuff. "I just remember thinking, 'a week ago we wouldn't have thought we would be here but here we are', and it was just such a simple, obvious decision. I thought 'this is what's got to be done' and we just didn't hesitate."
Ardern said those restrictions were New Zealand's opportunity to "do it differently" from other countries.
Since then, things have been ramped up even further. Ardern on Thursday announced anyone arriving in New Zealand must quarantine in a Government approved facility for 14 days.
She also said the Government had no plans to bring the country out of lockdown early.
With about two weeks of alert level 4 still to go, Ardern revealed to the podcast how she unwinds when at home. The Prime Minister is self-isolating in Wellington with her partner Clarke Gayford, daughter Neve, and her parents.
"Playing with Neve helps a lot because of course when I'm with her she just wants full attention - at the moment there's not a lot of time in the evenings but my parents like watching terrible British comedies so, from time-to-time, I might dip into something," Ardern jokes.
