New Zealand entered COVID-19 alert level 4 one year ago on Thursday.
During an afternoon press conference on March 23, 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand would enter alert level 3 effective immediately - and told Kiwis that alert level would rise to 4 on March 25.
"These new measures can slow the virus down and prevent our health system from being overwhelmed and ultimately save lives," Ardern told the news briefing.
"I am in no doubt that the measures I have announced today will cause unprecedented economic and social disruption. But they are necessary."
"Everything you will all give up for the next few weeks, all of the lost contact with others, all of the isolation, and difficult time entertaining children - it will literally save lives. Thousands of lives," she said.
Watch the video to take a look back at Ardern's full lockdown speech.
