Slow road to normality
With lockdown restrictions easing to allow larger gatherings, New Zealanders spent the first part of Queen’s Birthday Weekend making up for lost time.
Large parts of the South Island had the best weather in the country and people were out making the most of the 100-person gathering limit, which came into effect on Friday.
In Auckland, one of the more popular past-times was shopping.
At the country’s largest mall, Sylvia Park, management was monitoring the influx to ensure shopper numbers did not compromise social distancing. This meant staggered entries at one point.
Further south, Arna Wilson and Cam Baxter were at The Boathouse in Nelson yesterday afternoon, sharing a beer and a bowl of chips on the deck in the sun. It was their first drink out in more than two months.
‘‘I think this is the first beer out, it’s pretty satisfying,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘It feels back to normal, everyone is out.’’
They chose the venue because of its location with views overlooking the Nelson Haven. The two planned to spend the rest of the long weekend making the most of the fine weather before the forecast rain set in.
The Boathouse acting manager Michelle McCree said with the cancellation of all weddings and functions for the near future, the venue decided to open for lunch on Saturdays.
Local event bookings were slowly coming back in, but in the meantime the weekend lunch gig had proven so popular that McCree had to turn people away at the door.
She said people from as far south as Oamaru and Christchurch had travelled up to Nelson to visit friends.
‘‘It’s good to reconnect, every cloud has a silver lining.’’
MetService forecaster Gerard Bellam said the lower South Island was ‘‘the place to be’’ over Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
A low-pressure system moving south would bring heavy rain and easterly winds to the North Island today. The front would hopefully bring some much-needed rain to the Hunua Ranges in Auckland, relief for the city’s worst drought on record.
A severe weather warning was in place for Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula for today and tomorrow, with more than 100mm of rain expected in both regions.
‘‘Certainly for the large number of travellers that made it down to the South Island for the long weekend, they have picked the right island to go to.’’
There was blue sky and sunshine for most of Canterbury yesterday, with some areas reaching 15 degrees Celsius.
On the Canterbury coast, New Brighton’s hot saltwater pools officially opened, and Queen’s Birthday Weekend tickets sold out within hours.
The $11 million beachfront facility – named He Puna Taimoana – includes five outdoor pools, a sauna and steam room and unspoilt views across the Pacific Ocean.
Manager Merryn Skipper said they were happy to finally open.
‘‘It’s been something that the community has wished for since 1968, we couldn’t be prouder of this facility.’’
Christchurch Farmers’ Market was back to pre-lockdown visitor numbers for the first time since level 2 was introduced.
Co-founder and manager Sam Marchant said there were around 60 stallholders at the Deans Bush market with many people arriving from 8am.
‘‘The weather has been good and it’s been great to see so many people out supporting local businesses,’’ he said.