Supacat wrote:

Isolated island - by what measure? In today's world very few places are isolated.

Tiny economy - GDP per capita is approx the same as UK.

Population spread over large areas - "While NZ has a lower population than many other countries it is important to note that the vast majority of New Zealand's population live in cities or towns that are more comparable in density to many other countries."

<snip>

For every 10 persons in UK we get 5.4 international visitors whilst New Zealand gets nearly 50% more at 7.5.

Far lower levels of international trade - by value per head UK is higher but not hugely.

and none by land - how does that differ from the UK, both being islands?

Supacat wrote:

Grenadier wrote:

New Zealand (isolated island, tiny economy, population spread over large areas, little international movement of people to/through their borders, far lower levels of international trade, and none by land etc), the two world-leading countries. We have to compare apples with apples.

Isolated island - by what measure? In today's world very few places are isolated. By any reasonable measure. I'm a Kiwi, it's the back end of beyond and visitor numbers, frequency of travel and access are entirely different to that of the UK and the open borders with Europe.

Tiny economy - GDP per capita is approx the same as UK. I didn't say GDP I said economy. We're the 6th largest, NZ 50th. Elon Musk is worth almost as much as NZ's annual GDP. UK international tourism accounts for 10% of our economy, NZ 5%. UK has 4m jobs tied to the tourist sector. 20% of NZ GDP is from ovsereas exports to China and a handful of other countries and is mainly farming and mining, trade which could continue. It is therefore a much easier decision the shut down the world's 50th global economy than the 6th. It's exponential, not just per capita. I say this to emphasise that whilst what Ardern has done is brilliant, the size of the economy (and the factors I mention below) make it easier. Not easy, easier. What's more, NZ have not been in the process of managing a divorce from their largest trading partner at the same time which will only amplify full scale lockdowns.

Population spread over large areas - "While NZ has a lower population than many other countries it is important to note that the vast majority of New Zealand's population live in cities or towns that are more comparable in density to many other countries." Balls. Yes they have a handful of big cities (Auckland approx 1.5m, ChCh approx 400k) but density is not even comparable. Average density UK to NZ is 450/km2 vs 18/km2, but comparing the two busiest cities as an example are London 6000/km2 vs Auckland 500/km2. 10 times the density, but also 5 times the size. Just ONE city. How can they even be compared? Further only 10% of the UK population is rural, so density for the remaining 45m people, on an island half the size of NZ, is as high as their biggest city.


Click image to enlarge

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-zealand...heazlewood

Little international movement of people to/through their borders - "Many people are saying that NZ is isolated and does not have many international visitors. While NZ has a comparatively small population and comparatively small tourist numbers in terms of total visitors, nevertheless as a percentage of the population the visitor numbers are quite high"

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-zealand...heazlewood

For every 10 persons in UK we get 5.4 international visitors whilst New Zealand gets nearly 50% more at 7.5.

My point was not discussing the relative sizes of our tourist economies, but that it is much easier to control/shut down 3m visitors than 45m visitors. FFS more people visit the Natural History Museum than NZ. What's more, nobody in the world 'transits' through NZ to other destinations whereas the UK, mainly Heathrow, remains one of the world's top-5 hubs. People who come through the UK without ever stopping but can still act as a vector. Indeed London's airports combined make London the busiest airport hub city inthe world with 180m passing through. Auckland a staggering 20m. Further, bar East Coast Oz, maybe 20m people, NZ has no other countries within 2hrs flight that offers people the opportunity for business trips, day trips, weekend breaks. The UK has 40 with almost 3/4 of a BILLION people.

Far lower levels of international trade - by value per head UK is higher but not hugely. Not value, quantity. Movement of people who are transporting the stuff = movement of the virus.

and none by land - how does that differ from the UK, both being islands?

Huttopia wrote:

The test and trace system has been lost. No one in govt is mentioning it and Dido Harding has vanished off the face of the earth.

I'd have more faith in us saving the money we are filling her pockets with and splashing out on a few of these:


Click image to enlarge

COVID-19: Scientists have trained sniffer dogs to detect coronavirus with 94% accuracy

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-scient...y-12207865

Of course they may be subject to an EU export ban...