My thoughts on New Zealand's quarantine..

I feel like I have to start this off my saying this is obviously my opinion. I would like to think that most of this is based off facts, but of course there is some emotional drive behind it as well.

Righto, so here we go.

As a proud Kiwi living overseas of course I have been keeping up with everything going on, I've been worried sick about my family and my friends, being able to keep in contact was an absolute godsend during the progression through the different restrictions.

Originally I had planned to come home before it got bad, but due to circumstances out of control I wasnt able to make it back before things initially stopped.

However I have done my research and I knew what is expected of me when it came to government directed isolation.

Compared to quarantines here, it was an absolute holiday.

Yet there has been some issues as of late and as someone who will have to actually go through this process, I thought I should speak up.

(Also I know that all these thoughts are probably above my pay grade and I'm sure that there are people that have crunched these numbers but like I said at the beginning- my opinion ya'll)

Firstly, I acknowledge that the government has realeased the cost of isolating each new arrival and it is staggering. Far too much in my opinion.

Housing people at 5 star hotels surely cannot be the cheapest option when it comes to accomidation, there is no need to be in a 5 star location.

Also the food that they are serving is top quality, which is great, but also unnecessary. I survived at boarding school for five years and the standard there was less than superb. If they are catering for large numbers, surely they can cut costs when it comes to housing and food.

The main things I have been seeing online go a lil something like this:

1. They had plenty of time to return home, or shouldn't have left when they knew what was happening.

For me, it was hard to gauge when it was getting bad as we were dealing with it before it got to the "western world" so it was a really strange time, and when I had planned to get home, situations changed, meaning I couldnt actually get back. Even though Vietnam was always temporary for me, it is very hard to just drop everything and get on a plane, so its not quiet as easy as "just coming home". I have a job, I have an apartment. These are commitments, It was a difficult choice to just get up and leave. That would effect alot of people. My classes would need to be covered, meaning stress on my co-workers. My flatmates would end up paying more rent. It wasnt as straight forward as you would think. Yet like I said, I did make the call and my Brother and Sister-in-law were absolutely incredible and booked me a flight for as soon as possible, but like I said, situations here changed, and I wasnt actually allowed to fly as I had to isolate and by the time my mandatory isolation period was finished, Singapore had shut transit, rendering my flight (and most of my options) dead.

2. So much anger and hate. Seeing heaps of comments online like

"you chose to leave NZ dont come crawling back now"

Or

"You wanted to get out and see the world, you made your bed, it's time you lay in it"

Really?? I wanted an adventure, to better myself, to learn from different people from different cultures. I didnt burn my passport and pray for the destruction of my homeland! I left New Zealand to get a better worldview. To expand my mind and to learn. Qualities that I will be bringing home with me. Things that will stick with me forever, things that I can pass on to friends, family, my community. Skills that I can transfer into practically every job I will ever do at home. I'm not saying I'm a huge success story and I'm the pride of NZ or anything mad like that. I just fail to see how wanting to better myself automatically means that my native land no longer wants me? Or I dont deserve to come home.

3. The tax payers shouldnt be paying for the isolation as its tax money that has come from people who stayed in New Zealand, people out of the country have not been paying tax.

That's 100% correct. Since I left, I havent paid tax in New Zealand, but before that, I had been paying taxes since the age of 12. Furthermore I will continue to pay tax in New Zealand for the rest of my life. I understand how taxes work and that while I was in New Zealand I was receiving the benefits of those taxes with roads and hospitals and such so I do understand where the anger is coming from with those comments.I do believe that it shouldn't be fully government funded, But with the government setting the price so high, they would have a monopoly on the situation, as you HAVE to isolate but you also HAVE to pay 3K.

Obviously I was raised to always pay my way, so if it came to it, I would pay, as I want to come home, and that's not a big deal for me. But it's also a huge cost. 3K? For two weeks? Its is alot to ask, especially when getting a flight home has also dramatically increased in price,it would put alot of strain on me. If it was subsidised or If there were cheaper options, sweet as, but if I had to fully pay it would make me have to reconsider returning home or it would delay my return as I would need to save up quiet a bit.Double edged sword ya see.

I 100% support isolation though. I believe every single person should have to isolate for two weeks. No exceptions. Shove a swab as far up my nose as you want, put me wherever you need to for 14 days, as long as when I leave I know I'm not putting my friends, family or community at risk, I'm golden!

The other thing that has obviously been on the news is the two women that were granted compassionate exemption from isolation, only to have the 'Rona and complete the most unbelievable road trip since Mark Lundy back in 01.

First of all, yes I believe that they should have been tested and the government is responsible for letting that slip through the cracks.

However failing to announce symptoms at a time like this is just damn right irresponsible. They did ruin it for everyone unfortunately.

Even abroad I could see the huge pressure the government was facing. Every day there was a new artical about separated families or people needed to be allowed in for this and that. The comment sections were flooded with people saying how stressed and unfair it was that they havent been able to see their families. Which it is. I'm not denying that at all. I'm stressed I cant see my family. I was meant to visit in April to see my Nephews, my family, my friends and I couldnt. I understand. But I have noticed a trend, the people that were saying it was unfair that families are separated tend to be the people also being outraged that this was allowed to happen, remember you get a sore bum from sitting on the fence.

I understand what everyone is feeling though, it is a huge kick in the teeth when you have been following the rules and you went through all the stress and fear of lockdown and then it was all undone just like that. Believe me, it's the exact same here.

I am terrified of Vietnam opening its boarders again, because that's when the threat can come back. When we were appartment hunting one of our requirements was if a second wave happens, could we be inside these four walls for another month or two?

So I do understand. But now is not the time for blame, its doing what we do best as New Zealanders and pick ourselves back up and keep moving forward.

Regardless of what you think of the current government at the moment, whether you are red or blue, right now we need to be one team. Purple If you would.

Wanting failure for Jacinda is like being on the Inter-Islander and wanting it to sink cause you dont like the Captian. Everyone ends up losing.

It's tough and its hard and it's scary, but Kiwis are resilient! And I have full faith that you can get this back under control!

When it comes time for me to touch back down in the land of the long white cloud I'm more than happy to go wherever, pay whatever, swab whatever. To make sure our nation is safe, after-all we need to make it to the next world cup at least so we can get some redemption!

That's my 2cents anyway!

Till next time..

Just be kind.