Flash protest against COVID lockdown, Bridge of Remembrance, Christchurch, 18 August 2021

In the evening of 17 August 2021, New Zealand's prime minister announced that the entire country would go into a Level 4 lockdown (a so-called 'hard lockdown') from midnight, due to one case of coronavirus infection being detected in the Auckland region. The smartphones of New Zealanders were simultaneously force-fed a government message -- bizarrely titled 'Presidential alert' (were these piggybacked on the US emergency alert system?) -- informing them of the restrictions which would come into force within hours.

A flash protest against the disproportionate and draconian measures was held in Christchurch on the morning of 18 August, 2021, at the Bridge of Remembrance. I attended and did some filming.

Links:

"Covid 19 coronavirus: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces level 4 lockdown for Auckland, Coromandel, New Zealand", NZ Herald, 17 Aug 2021
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-announces-level-4-lockdown-for-auckland-coromandel-new-zealand/ITGVJ7X446SLBQD3VSUHTXNNVM/

"Covid-19: Delta transmission at Auckland's Jet Park MIQ hotel via opening of doors", Stuff, Aug 17 2021
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300383287/covid19-delta-transmission-at-aucklands-jet-park-miq-hotel-via-opening-of-doors

"Covid 19 coronavirus: Columnist blasts NZ's elimination strategy, claims Kiwis ready to rebel", NZ Herald, 24 Aug, 2020
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12358882&fbclid=IwAR2nJ17KhDi4qcPEYkVNQdKZfyx63zLjgE4EzKDyz9KYIogjbFvdNXxQrNs