How New Zealand’s clear messaging helped beat COVID-19
One year on from the nation’s first case of COVID-19,
it has largely eliminated the novel coronavirus. Positive communication played a key part in its success
By Elle Hunt / The Guardian, WELLINGTON
“Stay at home. Protect the NHS [National Health Service]. Save lives.” The COVID-19 catchcry of the UK under British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, revived last month, might sound familiar to New Zealanders now enjoying their “unstoppable summer.”
Johnson’s three-part slogan was reportedly derived in March last year from a suggestion by Ben Guerin, a 25-year-old New Zealander who advised on the Conservative Party’s social media strategy. His attention had been caught by a phrase that was increasingly prevalent in New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s messaging back home: “Stay at home, save lives.”
Last modified on Thu 25 Feb 2021 20.28 EST
“Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.” The catch cry of pandemic Britain under Boris Johnson, revived last month, might sound familiar to New Zealanders now enjoying their “unstoppable summer”.
Johnson’s three-part slogan reportedly derived last March from a suggestion by Ben Guerin, a 25-year-old Kiwi who advised on the Conservatives’ social media strategy. His attention had been caught by a phrase that was increasingly prevalent in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s messaging back home: “Stay at home, save lives.”
But there, the two countries’ strategies to fight Covid diverged. Now, one year on from recording its first case of coronavirus, New Zealand has largely eradicated community transmission. England remains in lockdown, having revived its “stay home” slogan last month ahead of its third and toughest restrictions. The two countries’ death tolls stand at 26, and more than 100,000 respectively.