Editor’s letter
We’re experiencing an unprecedented time in history. On March 25, New Zealand went into COVID-19 lockdown and a State of National Emergency was declared. A minimum of four weeks’ self-isolation was deemed critical in order to try to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave us a simple message: “Stay home.” In order to save lives, she explained, we need to break the chain of transmission. And so here we are. A nation in self-isolation. Our new normal has changed dramatically. Like most of you, the entire Woman’sDay team is working from home, navigating the challenges of producing a magazine remotely. It’s deadline day, and instead of the hustle and bustle of the office, I’m sitting at a makeshift work station in a corner of the lounge. My pooch Tui is at my feet, Darcy, 10, is doing lessons on a laptop at the dining room table, 16-year-old Cleo is in a virtual classroom in her bedroom, and my husband Conrad, who can’t work during the lockdown, is wearing noise-cancelling headphones while he makes lunch. It’s novel – and it’s certainly cosy! But for four weeks, this sort of scenario will be the norm in so many New Zealand homes. While I’ve been in isolation, I’ve been thinking about you, lovely readers. I’ve been wondering how you are feeling and what you need from most right now. With that in mind, last week we asked more than 700 of you online just that. You really did make me proud! You told us you’re more concerned about the world – and the rest of Aotearoa in particular – than you are about yourselves right now. You said you’re worried about people not taking this situation seriously, panic buying and selfish shopping behaviour, the health of the elderly and vulnerable, jobs and businesses suffering, and the anxiety and stress others will be feeling. I can understand that. We are a kind and compassionate country and it’s in our nature to think beyond ourselves. You also gave me a great steer on the advice you wanted in our lifestyle pages, so this week you’ll find features on: What to do if you’re showing flu-like symptoms (page 36), staying connected (page 38), keeping kids entertained (page 40), home schooling (page 42), working from home (page 44), the healthiest pantry staples (page 54) and our team’s recommendations (page 68) of 50 brilliant TV shows to binge! But you also told us you wanted Woman’sDay to stay as “normal as possible” to give you some respite and escape from these challenging times. You asked us to keep sharing good news to uplift you while you’re in social isolation – and my team will definitely keep that in mind in coming weeks too. It’s essential we keep positive. It’s a crazy time, but I’m keen to look for the joy amongst this strange new reality. I’ve always complained about not getting enough “quality time” with my lovely family – so I guess now’s my chance! I’ll take that as a gift. And I’ve loved seeing the kindness and compassion Kiwis are showing each other, determined to come together to ride out this storm. We know that Woman’sDay is so much more than just a magazine. It’s a community where you can share your stories – your tears and laughter – and find all kinds of topics that matter to you right now. While my team might be working remotely, we’re still here for a friendly catch-up every week. And if you can’t find a physical copy of the magazine, you can download our digital edition via magshop.co.nz/digitalsubs or connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. You’ll also find our stories on our Now to Love website. If you know someone who’d value a subscription to their door, you can email magshop@magshop.co.nz. And you can always email me at skitchin@bauermedia.co.nz if you would simply like to chat. Stay safe and snug out there everyone. We’re here for you.