Dunedin Hospital radiologist Ben Wilson was glad to welcome back to the city his daughters Rachel and Emma, who had been studying, respectively, at Auckland University, and in Denmark, on a secondary school exchange programme.
And University of Otago physiotherapy student Laina Samia, in her fourth year of studies, was ‘‘very pleased’’ to be heading to her family home in Napier, via Christchurch, after the University of Otago, other tertiary institutions and most schools were to be closed through Government safety restrictions, to limit the spread of Covid-19.
She was feeling ‘‘quite stressed’’ to be going to the airport, but was also relieved that a flight could be booked, and that some of the uncertainty about her academic programme was being clarified.
Dr Wilson said there had been a great deal of uncertainty, international rules had been changing each day, and it had been the best thing for Emma (18), a year 13 pupil at St Hilda's Collegiate School to come home early, given a move by the Danish Government to close its border in its continuing fight against Covid-19.
‘‘I’m happy to be home,’’ Emma said.
Tired from her long flights, she said her exchange programme had been due to run until midyear, but she realised that plans needed to be changed very quickly, under the circumstances.
‘‘I’m still processing everything,’’ she added.
Rachel (20), who is studying law and commerce at Auckland University, said it had been ‘‘the best decision’’ to head back to the family home in Dunedin after university classes had closed in Auckland.
‘‘I feel safer to be with my family — it’s very uncertain how long this is going to last,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re all here, which is good,’’ Dr Wilson said.
■The Government yesterday extended the deadline for domestic travel to 11.59pm on Friday.
People needing to travel on domestic flights, trains and Cook Strait ferries to get home before the country moves into level 4 lockdown tonight would be able to continue using the passenger services until midnight on Friday, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said.
Domestic passenger services, particularly ferries, had been inundated with people trying to get home before the original cut-off date for non-essential workers of 11.59pm tonight.
A decrease in passenger numbers to accommodate level 3 physical distancing measures had reduced the ability of passenger services to carry more people.
Mr Twyford said it was unlikely the increased demand could be met before 11.59pm tonight.
“There has been further pressure on domestic passenger services from international tourists who are completing self-isolation and declared Covid-free to move to their final destination in New Zealand.
“That’s why the Cabinet Covid Committee this afternoon agreed to extend the deadline for non-essential workers and international tourists to keep using domestic passenger services until midnight Friday. After this time, services will only be provided to essential services and workers, including freight services.
“International travellers will only be allowed to use domestic passenger services to reach their final destination to comply with lockdown requirements.’’
