New Zealand may lift all virus restrictions next week

The borders remain closed

That is the key point. Otherwise you take the risk of imported cases.

That is the only problem I see in Japan. The cases in Japan are very low, but open the borders too soon can bring many imported cases inside the country.

So if NZ really keep the borders close, they can go back to their normal lives and enjoy!

But NZ is a very famous country for travelers from all over the world. Sooner or later, they have to open the borders because they need the money from the tourists.

But anyway! Very good job NZ!

New Zealand recorded no new cases of coronavirus for a 11th consecutive day on Tuesday, and has just one active case in the country.

Meanwhile, Taiwan has had no domestic transmission for 50 days. And Japan still restricts travel from Taiwan.

Give it a month and Japan will be in the same position as New Zealand, with much less economic damage

No way will Japan have zero virus cases a month from now.

Still, no way New Zealand won’t suffer for locking its borders.

But then, I guess no wants to travel much now anyway.

Different choices.

Wrong Akula. Japan won't be in the same position. In all likelihood, with Japan opening schools and other businesses, there will be more cases - possibly a lot more. People in Japan (well, those with common sense) will be afraid to go out and spend. In contrast, people in NZ will be walking around spending freely without fear. The NZ government has given far more money quickly and directly to consumers. Their economy will recover faster. No, Akula. I think the economic damage will continue in Japan for much longer. Meanwhile, NZ may even have an export boom from it's large agricultural sector.

Not so much extra demand, but less supply. Meat processing plants closing. Supply chain disruption. Bankruptcies. American continent getting hit hard. Silly panic buying things like butter etc, doesn't help of course. Most people will still want their freezers nicely stocked up. Easier to make masks than it is a good steak.

How could New Zealand have done so well on Corona? The Japanese media says Japan did well because Japanese clean their toilets and the language is not as harsh as English, as well as because of Washoku spices, not shaking hands or kissing even people you love, and people here take baths every day unlike in other nations -- and no one gathers at shrines or temples in crowds, ever. Don't they speak English in NZ? And surely they don't clean their toilets or take baths! How could they have a lower rate than Japan with the latter's unique culture?

Seriously people, comparing New Zealand against Japan in the handling of Convid-19 is like comparing apple against orange. Both are island nations of similar sizes but Japan has a population of 126.5 millon and New Zealand has just 4.9 million. New Zealand is trying to eradicate the virus. Japan is trying to contain it.

From Japan to NZ, as long as you follow truth, as long as you don't lie about the nature of the pandemic, virus is containable. The key is that the govt has to play its role to protect its citizens.

I postponed my visit to Japan due to the virus.

I am wanting to "retire" to Japan(Sendai)

So get better quickly so we can come and live with you.

Cheers Good People.

Well, looks like the hard lockdown that New Zealand implemented actually did pay off. 

Its sad how among so many other possibilities, people feel the need to embrace authoritarian government over-reach as the most likely source of success. Sad, but also infuriating.

NZ may even have an export boom from it's large agricultural sector.

what’s going to cause the extra demand for that?

she is right.

she is wise. as PM compared to many PMs or presidents all over.

Artemis Rogers: "For one thing NZ was in summer when it hit. NZ is now in fall."

And? In Brazil it's largely summer year-round, and yet they're being ravaged. And season was it in Singapore, pres tel? As for closing down the borders, the Japanese government said what they had done was perfect.

Ardern is facing a few issues, in particular some around the conduct of her fiance (the media in NZ isn't reporting it but he has been up to a lot of no good), and in the face of that has managed well.

There needs to be a managed opening of the borders. I just wonder what the technological settings need to be to safely allow that. When a quarter of the country is foreign born, there are a lot of people cut off from friends and family.

Do you think NZ geographic position and tiny population number has anything to do with it? WELL of course it has!

Not so much extra demand, but less supply.

I would say demand is getting smashed whereas meat processing and “essential services” have been running as usual in most places.

We’ll see how it works out, but I’m skeptical of any suggestion that any economy will do well in times immediately ahead. I can’t help but think there will be economic pain everywhere.

New Zealand is small and will likely be buffeted hard. That’s why their central bank chief was talking about helicopter money, I believe.

Well, looks like the hard lockdown that New Zealand implemented actually did pay off. And whether or not it’s because of the testing, as many have complained about with Japan, or New Zealand with the hard lockdown, the point is that the cases are really getting low in a few places, and it’s something that should be celebrated. I mean even here in the US, where I live, things are really starting to open up. I’m very happy to see that, and especially with stuff like this!

Ardern .... noted that the protesters had flouted rules.

But in this case she is ok with it because she agrees with it, If it was something she didnt agree with tho expect to be prosecuted by the control your life freak. Double Standards with this one.

NZ has gone harder than it needed to, and the economic damage will be felt for generations. Still we are in a better position than a lot of other countries right now.

Give it a month and Japan will be in the same position as New Zealand, with much less economic damage.

Meanwhile, Taiwan has had no domestic transmission for 50 days. And Japan still restricts travel from Taiwan.

Good. Japan needs to restrict travel from all China affiliated countries.

How could they have a lower rate than Japan with the latter's unique culture?

For one thing NZ was in summer when it hit. NZ is now in fall. Also, NZ is probably the most remote largely populated place on Earth and is pretty far from a business hub. Its a very agricultural place, sparsely populated with more sheep than humans. Japan is the third largest economy on Earth, highly industrial and dependent on other countries for food. It was easy for NZ to cut international travel.

Japan won't be in the same position. In all likelihood, with Japan opening schools and other businesses, there will be more cases - possibly a lot more. 

Fearmongering. I am not going say Corona is going to go away because it isn't. Its always been with us and it mutates whether for better or worse for us. No one knows or ever really knew what it was going to do. But that's life. Life is risk. Making this a prison planet because of this one risk is not the way to go. NZ can keep its authoritarian lockdowns, but we will see what happens as their winter approaches.