It can feel like looking at another planet, rather than a country on the other side of the world. New Zealand is currently enjoying a life we can only eye enviously from afar - from spectator-filled rugby stadiums to New Year's celebrations.
The country has become something of a poster child for its handling of the Covid epidemic. It reacted swiftly and severely as the pandemic took hold last year, and those early moves are credited with helping the country of five million virtually eliminate the coronavirus within its borders.
So far there has been only 1,927 confirmed cases in New Zealand since the start of the crisis. Flights in a so-called green corridor between Australia and New Zealand were suspended yesterday for 72 hours following