Here in Kiwiland we have been pretty lucky. A total border closure to all except returning citizens or residents, combined with compulsory 14 day isolation with tests at day 3 and 12, exptended to 28 days if you don't have the tests, and quarantine in a seperate facility if the test is positive for covid, has seen litle impact on the health of our population. But economically that may change.
It is not often appreciated just how much freight flows into our country by air. With only a handful of incoming flights each week some goods are getting very difficult to purchase with some long waiting lists and no guarantee of supply due to our small population.
One economist warned last week that while we may have items to purchase for Christmas, the following weeks' annual sales may not happen due to lack of merchandise.
Last week a freighter due to pull into Auckland, our biggest port, was diverted to a secondary port as with facilities reduced ships are having to drop anchor in the harbour for up to 14 days to get a berth at a wharf. This is causing some shipping companies to refuse to carry sea freight to NZ as they cannot afford the wait time in harbour.
The ship that berthed is causing all sorts of issues with the roading network, which to be honest is not all that great in the area. It will take weeks to get the containers to Auckland by road and the infastructure effects will not be minor.
I heard one large vehicle outlet advertising today on the radio to order your next years new car now to guarantee delivery, but no delivery date could be specified. It will get here when it gets here, sometime in 2021.
No tourism income, no international students bringing in overseas funds, and with government aid for both workers and those who have lost their employment through covid-19 ending in the next month or so the economy is looking fragile. The 7% loss in GDP projected during our covid lockdown has been reduced to just 3% for 2021. But that is only a prediction.
Meanwhile we are being told that the vaccine will not be available for initial distribution (750,000 individual doses for a population of 5 million) until April 2021 and further supplies are uncertain.
While we have escaped the toll in lives that most of the world has suffered the economic impact has gone from dire predictions to "hey, it won't so bad actually" to uncertain.
I juta hope that 2021 is a better year for us all.
It is not often appreciated just how much freight flows into our country by air. With only a handful of incoming flights each week some goods are getting very difficult to purchase with some long waiting lists and no guarantee of supply due to our small population.
One economist warned last week that while we may have items to purchase for Christmas, the following weeks' annual sales may not happen due to lack of merchandise.
Last week a freighter due to pull into Auckland, our biggest port, was diverted to a secondary port as with facilities reduced ships are having to drop anchor in the harbour for up to 14 days to get a berth at a wharf. This is causing some shipping companies to refuse to carry sea freight to NZ as they cannot afford the wait time in harbour.
The ship that berthed is causing all sorts of issues with the roading network, which to be honest is not all that great in the area. It will take weeks to get the containers to Auckland by road and the infastructure effects will not be minor.
I heard one large vehicle outlet advertising today on the radio to order your next years new car now to guarantee delivery, but no delivery date could be specified. It will get here when it gets here, sometime in 2021.
No tourism income, no international students bringing in overseas funds, and with government aid for both workers and those who have lost their employment through covid-19 ending in the next month or so the economy is looking fragile. The 7% loss in GDP projected during our covid lockdown has been reduced to just 3% for 2021. But that is only a prediction.
Meanwhile we are being told that the vaccine will not be available for initial distribution (750,000 individual doses for a population of 5 million) until April 2021 and further supplies are uncertain.
While we have escaped the toll in lives that most of the world has suffered the economic impact has gone from dire predictions to "hey, it won't so bad actually" to uncertain.
I juta hope that 2021 is a better year for us all.
