Unity

Someone asked this question on a message board and here was an English woman's reply:

What is normal in New Zealand but weird in the rest of the world?

Unity.

I have to warn you, this answer is a bit cheeky. I’ll explain why in a minute. But first, a quick story.

A quick story:

Around about this time last year (March 2020) New Zealand went into full lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.

I'm not here to share the lockdown part with you, that's old news, I'm here to share why it was weird. How, once upon a time, in a global pandemic, everyone in a country did as they were told. And although it was a joy to witness. It was a bit of a shock.

Go on…

I am British and I emigrated to New Zealand with my husband and kids twelve years ago.

I was born and raised in England where I lived for 39 years.

In England, when someone in authority (let's say a bus driver) tells people to sit down there will always be that awkward sod that says no. The one that remains standing.

I'm not sure why this is. It's probably something to do with freedom of speech or burning your bra or something. Don't ask me. All I know is that I grew up in a country accepting that not everyone did as they were told.

Even if it meant putting others at risk.

When we lived in England, my son's school sent a letter home asking parents to support a no screens on Wednesday policy. There was an outcry. Ten or more mothers banging on the office door. Demanding to know: 'Says who?'

And the sad part was? People didn't bat an eyelid.

Including me.

I accepted that there would always be those who took great pleasure in going against the grain.

Look at Sid Vicious. He was born in England. And everyone knows what a rebel he was.

Lockdown in New Zealand

So when the people of New Zealand were given forty-eight hours notice to get their sh*t together and stay indoors for a month, I was secretly expecting rebellion. I was waiting for it.

But it never ever happened.

I observed in awe when, for the first time ever in my life, I witnessed a country coming together. Unifying.

Whether the New Zealanders liked it or not I don't know.

But for an entire month, people put their rights and their whinging and the, 'it's not fairs,' to one side and they got on with the job that they had been asked to do.

To stay at home.

Of course, there was the odd scallywag.

One bloke held a beer party at the end of his driveway and was seen throwing hot dogs over the fence to his aunty. But these cases were few and far between.

It was official. The country was united.

While the rest of the world declared war on Covid, New Zealand adopted the slogan unite against Covid.

And that's exactly what they did. Unite.

To be part of that unity felt glorious and, if I'm honest, surreal. I was living in a country where everyone, every single person was on the same page.

Noone left their homes unless they had to. Noone walked their dog in places that required driving to. People were courteous and kept their distance.

Everyone did as they were told.

And so, in answer to the question: What is normal in your country but weird in the rest of the world?

I hold you forward Aotearoa. Because you blew me away. With your unity, your calmness, your compassion and your shut-up-and-get-on-with-it attitude.

And while this may be normal to you New Zealand, believe me, to this English girl it felt weird.

Wonderfully glorious but a little bit weird.