. . . but then lockdown changed everyone’s life
Life changed for all in dramatic fashion in late March as the Covid 19-forced lockdown was imposed in New Zealand. In the third instalment in our series looking back on the year that was, Doug Sail summarises one of the most significant months in the cale
On the first full day of alert level 4 lockdown (March 26), South Canterbury was confirmed as having its first two cases of Covid19 as the country’s total hit 283.
The four-stage alert level system had been announced on March 21, with level 2 instigated. The country went to level 3 two days later with news that level 4 would start at 11.59pm on March 25.
Four days later – March 29 – and the country’s first Covid-19 death was reported – a woman in her 70s on the West Coast.
South Canterbury’s first two cases were among 78 new cases confirmed in New Zealand that day and less than a week after the region’s first Covid-19 testing clinic was opened.
Level 4 meant schools were closed, non-essential businesses and council facilities were shut, and travel around the country ‘‘severely limited’’.
Working from home became the norm for some as all New Zealanders who didn’t work in essential services were instructed to stay at home.
Over following weeks, new everyday words and terms would emerge such as lockdown, bubble, self-isolation, social distancing, flattening the curve, community transmission, panic buying, PPE and QR Code.
Earlier in March, the Covid threat had South Canterbury-based travel agents reporting an influx of inquiries as travellers raised concerns about the spreading pandemic.
Lee Johns, of My Travel Broker Timaru, said many customers were worried pulling the plug on their plans would come with a hefty price tag and others were reluctant to book unless they knew they could cancel without losing their deposits.
Johns said she had been getting in contact with operators to find out where her customers stood.
As the virus spread and concerns rose about how contagious it was, events were cancelled and South Canterbury was no different to the rest of the country and world.
On March 17, the hugely popular Caroline Bay Rock and Hop was cancelled with Hospice South Canterbury board chairman Peter Cosgrove confirming the decision ‘‘with huge regret’’.
‘‘As the operator of a health facility it was felt it would be irresponsible to continue, and we wanted to let people know as soon as possible as some had already begun their travels to South Canterbury.’’
This list of cancelled events and sports competitions was long and included other events like the
Waimate Harvest Festival, two Young Farmer of the Year regional finals, a police physical competency test for primary school pupils, a fundraising auction and an official opening at a healthcare facility as the Government recommended that large gatherings of 500 people, or more, should be cancelled.
The effect was wider than just events with business closures, job losses and rates cuts all predicted as South Canterbury civic leaders called for calm.
Mackenzie District mayor Graham Smith said the district was already feeling the significant economic impact of the virus.
Smith said he had spoken to several business owners and tourism operators about the impact of Covid-19.
South Canterbury leaders welcomed the Government’s stimulus package to combat the impacts of the pandemic.
The Government announced a $12 billion package, which included $5.1b in wage subsidies, $500m in health support, and a $25 per week increase in benefits.
Aoraki Development chief executive Nigel Davenport described the stimulus package as ‘‘extensive’’ and a ‘‘good start’’.
He suspected there would be more announcements to come.
Covid-19 changes bus services
Timaru’s trial on-demand buses were rushed into service on March 26 by Environment Canterbury.
MyWay, which allows passengers to use an app or dial a call centre to pick up a bus, had been set to go public in April as part of the ongoing trial but were introduced as a free service to replace the town’s four’s bus routes for the lockdown period.
With the lockdown effectively forcing people to avoid travel except for essential services, the MyWay service was able to pick people up and take them to pharmacies and supermarkets.
Teddy bear hunt
Lockdown also saw a number of South Canterbury residents embrace an international teddy bear hunt by putting them in windows for passing children to enjoy.
The concept was first aired on a London social media page and gained traction around the world during the pandemic.
The idea was based on the children’s book We’re Going on a
Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. It is about a persistent family which encounters obstacles, but continues with their bear hunt. They repeat their mantra, ‘‘We’re not scared’’ as they battle rough terrain and bad weather.
People around the country embraced the fun activity which gave children something to look forward to as they walked around their neighbourhoods.
Lotto luck continued
Before Covid-19 took over there was time for Temuka’s Village Post to be labelled one of the luckiest
Lotto stores in New Zealand after another major win – making it four big wins in less than a month.
One of the store’s lucky punters was only one number away from taking a share in the record-breaking
$50 million Lotto Powerball jackpot – won by two players from Auckland.
A winning Powerball second division ticket, one of eight nationwide, was sold at the Temuka store with the winner netting $35,771. A second division ticket, one of 39 nationwide and worth $26,117, was also sold at New World Waimate.
In less than a month, the Temuka store sold four winning tickets with a combined total of $1,078,870 in prizes.
Smell complaints mount
Timaru residents complained to Environment Canterbury of odours so bad they could not open their windows or let their children play outside, but the regional council hoped new technology would help them get to the bottom of the issue.
ECan released the log of all 42 complaints made about bad odours in Timaru in January and February.
The complaints revealed a range of supposed sources, particularly as the wind changed direction.
The most common complaints related to smells described as an ‘‘effluent’’ or ‘‘offal’’ smell.
There were also several complaints about odours thought to be caused by ‘‘pig waste’’.
Alpine Energy criticised
A Timaru District councillor accused lines company Alpine Energy of steering the council’s holdings company towards a ‘‘financial tornado’’.
Cr Stu Piddington’s remarks came after a presentation from the council’s chief financial officer David Codyre about Timaru District Holdings Ltd’s (TDHL) quarterly report that said its annual dividend to council was predicted to drop from $2.75 million for the 2019-20 financial year to $2m in 2020-21, and to $1m in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The drop was largely down to the fact Alpine Energy – 47.5 per cent-owned by the Timaru District Council – was not expected to pay a full dividend to TDHL and then onto council in 2021-22 and 2022-23, Codyre said.
In the past five years, Alpine Energy has paid out around $21m in dividends to the TDHL.
Fresh water find
News of a huge undersea aquifer – with enough water to fill 800 million Olympic swimming pools – discovered off the South Canterbury coast was revealed on March 13.
The groundwater is between Timaru and Ashburton and lies just 20 metres below the surface – making it one of the shallowest aquifers in the world.
It extends up to 60 kilometres from the coastline and may contain as much as 2000 cubic kilometres of water, equivalent to half the volume of groundwater found in Canterbury.
An aquifer occurs when water saturates sediment or porous rock. It is thought most of the groundwater discovered below the Canterbury Bight was rainfall that became trapped during the last three ice ages when sea levels were more than 100m lower than today.