Politics / Covid 19

Covid-19: Politicians in self-isolation

12:09 pm on 20 March 2020

Two politicians who are among the thousands of New Zealanders in isolation are Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick and the National Party's Chris Bishop.

Chloe Swarbrick and Chris Bishop are both in self-isolation. Photo: RNZ

Swarbrick and Bishop both recently returned from Australia.

Bishop has been in self-isolation since Saturday night.

He arrived before border restrictions were in place but took official advice to self-isolate.

He told RNZ's Morning Report he was just doing what a lot of people were doing - trying to make the best of a tough situation.

"I'm getting a lot of paperwork done and speaking to constituents over the phone, meetings via video conference and things like that."

Bishop set up a Facebook group for people on his street who were also in self-isolation or are vulnerable.

Swarbrick has self-isolated after returning to New Zealand on Monday after border restrictions came into effect.

She said she had been doing much the same as Bishop.

"I've been involved in connecting the dots in a few different Facebook groups and helping set up a few different Google Docs so that people who are in need are able to share those and people who can provide support are able to be up front and to share those skills."

Meetings and catching up on emails was also been part of her daily schedule.

Chlöe Swarbrick and Chris Bishop speak to Morning Report

  • If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs)

The government is now urging New Zealanders not to travel overseas.

The New Zealand border is now closed to anyone who is not a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.