News and views

This week will hopefully see New Zealand take the first small steps on a return to something resembling normality after the four-week lockdown on Alert Level Four. Regardless of how the government handles the transition out of lockdown, it will be a new normal and a new reality — that much is obvious.

With the spread of Covid-19 across multiple continents, a contemporary endemic disease has seen the world experience its most recent pandemic. As at 3.30pm on the 16th of April the total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand was 1,401.

There are a myriad of government measures to help support the business community while the rest of New Zealand concentrates on saving lives by observing the lockdown. The government’s objective is twofold. Firstly, to reduce the risk of businesses going under as well. Secondly, to maintain a healthy workforce so the business community can restart the economy once the restrictions are lifted.

On 24 March 2020, the Principal Family Court Judge, Judge Jacquelyn Moran, released a statement of guidance around the many questions posed for children in shared care and how this works with COVID-19.

On March 17, the Government announced a wage subsidy to support businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis, particularly those struggling to meet their obligations to their employees. Here’s what you need to know about the wage subsidy.​​

The new travel restrictions introduced by the New Zealand government highlight the new reality facing many businesses and communities. The situation is fast-moving and with the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 increasing, the government has introduced new measures to `flatten the curve’.

February has always been a stressful month for parents and children going back to school. But March is proving even more stressful with the threat of self-isolation looming for many parents of school-age children.

A recent news story on the front page of the stuff.co.nz website featured two Wellington couples who were selling their dream home after owning and living in it together for seven years. One comment suggested the story normalised the fact that “housing is now unaffordable for most Kiwis.” The story also normalised the fact that the current generation are more open to property sharing than in the past.