‘We’re all now putting each other first, and that is what we do so well as a nation. So, New Zealand: be calm, be kind, stay at home and break the chain.’6 In response to the prime minister’s rallying call, businesses around the country adopted a mantra of ‘be kind, stay safe’, encouraging customers to show positivity to one another. By acting early and decisively, New Zealand was able to flatten the curve of COVID-19, resulting in one of the lowest confirmed death rates per million people7 – all whilst adhering to Ardern’s call to exhibit patience, kindness and understanding.
