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The horrors of 2020 can be summed up in one word: Covid-19.
But there have also been some bright spots with sources of happiness, good news and joy to counter the pain caused by the global pandemic.
As we approach the end of the year and begin to think of resolutions to meet in 2021, let’s reminisce about the good times.
READ MORE:
* Coronavirus: The Strange, Wonderful, and Healthy Things Emerging from Our Covid-19 Lockdown
* Review of the week: cats, kindness and cautious optimism
* Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shares Neve’s Easter Egg ‘masterpiece’
* PM says Easter Bunny is essential worker, launches egg hunt
Mullet of the week
Supplied
Waiuku College students Bailey Thorpe, Callum Julian and Luke Cathcart shared the school’s ‘mullet of the week’ title.
In March, before the country was locked in, the mullet made its comeback, and Waiuku College in Auckland celebrated.
Taking inspiration from All Black Jack Goodhue, he introduced “Mullet of the Week” to social media in the name of culture and charity.
“Mullet has always been a popular hairstyle of choice among the youth of Waiuku, so we decided to create this weekly Facebook post as a fun way to highlight and celebrate this part of our local culture,” said Director Tom Vanderlaan.
5 million team, assemble
Like the saying “it takes a village to raise a child,” it takes an entire country to respond and successfully contain an infectious disease.
No, it is not that sticky, but it is true. New Zealand’s response to Covid-19 was based on the cooperation of what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the “5 million team.”
The team joined (but separately) in a lockdown, physically distanced themselves, routinely washed their hands, and baked banana bread to successfully eliminate the virus.
Easter Bunny
During the Covid-19 shutdown, supermarket staff were among those labeled as essential workers. But when the restrictions were extended over the Easter period, the prime minister had to make some changes to the jobs that are considered essential.
The Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy were listed as essential and allowed to continue working during the alert level 4 lockdown.
Ardern explained, however, that it is difficult for the Easter Bunny to move around at this time, so it may not reach every home.
“The Easter Bunny might not get everywhere this year,” he said at a daily Covid-19 briefing in April.
Teddy bear hunt nationwide
Braden Fastier / Stuff
A stuffed toy depicted in a window in Nelson during the Alert Level 4 lockdown.
To brighten the days when the children went out with the family for walks every day, households across the country participated in a hunt for teddy bears.
Teddy bears began to appear in the windows, creating a socially distant scavenger hunt for the children.
Households from Auckland, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin participated.
Gizzy Shrek the sheep is shorn
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Gizzy Shrek from Wairakaia Station.
Gizzy Shrek eluded farmer Rob Faulkner’s fabrics for about five years. But in September, he finally caught up with her and she got the hit.
The sheep, named Gizzy Shrek, was finally captured at the Wairakaia station. Before that, it had never been tampered with, is unmarked, and still has its tail.
When they caught her, her fleece was about 60 cm long.
First kiwi immunized against Covid-19
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Dr. Richard Johnston, a Seattle urologist, was vaccinated against Covid-19 in December.
Dr. Richard Johnston became one of the first Kiwis to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
The Seattle trauma worker, who is originally from Auckland, was prioritized at the hospital where he works and received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine last week.
#BeKindNZ trends
During the confinement, people began to share stories of kind acts that they had seen or experienced.
The #BeKindNZ hashtag was full of people sharing stories of colleagues inviting people into their ‘bubble’ to make sure they didn’t feel lonely and people accepting exchange students who couldn’t go home.
Things come home
A bit of cheeky self-promotion, but this year, Stuff entered a new era. Chief Executive Officer Sinead Boucher bought the company from Australian owner Nine, returning it to New Zealand.
Called a “bold move” by Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi, speculation about a possible acquisition was quashed with the purchase of $ 1.
Anzac Day Solidarity
Covid-19 restrictions meant that Anzac Day commemorations and services could not continue, so people paid their respects at home.
People were urged to stand at the end of their driveways or near mailboxes at dawn. Some put poppies in their windows to show their respects.
Super great outperforms the young
Jo McKenzie-McLean / Stuff
A 78-year-old supergran from Cromwell is a legend at the boards in her community gym. Jan Wood can outrun many gym goers, breaking his gym’s recent plank competition with a time of 21 minutes.
Jan Wood, a 78-year-old 10-year-old grandmother, showed off her physical prowess in September, beating out younger gym-goers.
As part of a challenge in his gym, he held a board for 21 minutes. She was only hit by her friend Lesley Garrett, 66, and held one for 40 minutes.
Jawsh 685 collaborates with Jason Derulo
Seventeen-year-old Josh Nanai, also known as Jawsh 685, collaborated with pop star Jason Derulo to create a hit that was heard around the world.
Nanai Laxed – Siren Beat was used to create Derulo’s song wild love, which was the soundtrack to a popular dance trend on TikTok.
Lotto ‘spies’ track the winner
A $ 5.5 million lottery ticket remained unchecked and unseen in the winner’s glove compartment for a month. It wasn’t until Lotto’s spies tracked down the ticket holder and approached him on the street that he claimed his prize.
Lotto workers investigated the winning ticket, looked up where it was bought, trying to find out who the lucky person was. They sometimes use CCTV footage and hire private investigators if their investigation doesn’t go well. This was only the second time they had personally approached a winner.
The miraculous recovery of the rugby league star
INSTAGRAM / MOSEMASOE
Former NRL pillar Mose Masoe was in the hospital after sustaining a serious spinal injury. He took his first steps without help in September.
Mose Masoe, a Kiwi rugby league player, was told he would never walk again after sustaining a serious spinal injury.
But in September, he proved all predictions wrong and took a few steps without help while recovering in England, eight months after being injured in a preseason game.
