Economics
New Zealand Economy Gets Back to Work as Lockdown Is Eased
- Economists predict long road to recovery as job losses mount
- We’re opening up economy, not people’s social lives: PM Ardern
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New Zealand emerged from almost five weeks of strict nationwide lockdown on Tuesday, offering a return to work for as many as half a million people and fanning hopes of a pick-up in economic activity.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lowered the alert level to 3, allowing workers to return to factories and construction sites and takeaway food outlets to reopen -- welcome relief for a country that has been in strict self-isolation since March 26. But many businesses will continue to operate with employees working from home, while hospitality outlets and retailers must meet tough criteria to ensure physical distancing with customers is maintained.