@Bolanghoy 27 July 2021 more from that month

Shortly before the strict lockdown, the New Zealand government sent emergency text messages to residents. "This is a message for all of New Zealand. We are depending on you," it read. "Where you stay tonight is where you must stay from now on... it is likely [the strictest] measures will stay in place for a number of weeks." Residents were also told it would take two weeks for signs that the lockdown was having an impact on the numbers. This made the purpose of the lockdown easy to understand and accept.