Bubbles and tears
It was an emotional day at Auckland International Airport yesterday when thousands of New Zealanders were reunited with family as the long awaited trans-Tasman bubble opened.
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LONG AWAITED HOMECOMING
HUGS AND KISSES
Larissa McCrea isn’t letting the excitement build just yet, not until her feet are on terra firma in New Zealand.
The mother-of-two hasn’t been to her old home of Athenree, near Waihi, for nearly 18 months due to the Covid-19 lockdown and border restrictions. But she booked her flights from Brisbane, where she now lives with her family, not long after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed the trans-Tasman travel bubble on April 6.
Today McCrea and her husband Daniel, daughters Zara, 7, and Jade, 5, will touch down at Auckland International Airport at 5.15pm.
‘‘The whole time I’m like, it’s not happening, because if it doesn’t happen then everyone will be devastated. I haven’t told the kids, because I can’t bear to tell them, and then have to tell them it’s not happening.’’
They’ll be picked up and taken home by McCrea’s father, Graham Bilyard, and partner, who have not seen them since Christmas 2019.
‘‘We are so lucky . . . one that we can afford the prices to fly home because they are expensive, I feel really bad for those people who want to come home but can’t afford the airfares. I (also) feel bad for the people who have family in England, Canada and the likes.’’
McCrea said not being able to come home when she wanted to have been one of the hardest things.
‘‘I have never gone this long without seeing friends and family either coming home or them visiting us. When I lived in England I was away for nearly the same amount of time, but that was my choice and I could go home when I wanted. I have never felt homesick until this.’’
McCrea knows of people going through a lot worse and is thankful that she hasn’t had anyone get sick during this period. Another aspect of the border restrictions that has affected McCrea has been that her daughters haven’t been able to see their grandparents and cousins.
‘‘When my nephew turned seven in March, it hit me I never got to see him when he was six. And I realised dad never saw Zara when she was six. And people might go who cares, but when your parents are elderly it’s a long period of time for the kids not to see them.’’