Coronavirus: Rush at supermarkets as people stock up before stores close
Thursday, 9 April 2020
Supermarkets around New Zealand are experiencing a surge in customers as people rush to stock up before stores close on Good Friday.
Supermarkets are an essential service during the Covid-19 lockdown and are one of the few businesses that remain open.
Under current laws, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are non-trading days for most of the country.
Have you experienced Thursday's supermarket rush? Email newstips@stuff.co.nz
But last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced supermarkets would be able to trade on Easter Sunday. Stores would remain closed on Good Friday to allow employees to rest and shelves to be restocked.
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Foodstuffs head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird said the company that operates New World, Pakn'Save and Four Square had a 'good supply' of Easter essentials.
'There's plenty of Easter treats to go round, including the all-important Easter eggs, so the Easter Bunny can definitely make a visit,' she told Stuff on Wednesday.
A Countdown spokesperson said the chain was working with confectionary supplier Mondelez to get more stock.
CHRISTCHURCH
In the South Island's biggest city on Thursday morning, long queues could be seen outside supermarkets including Pakn'Save Moorehouse, New World St Martins and Countdown Hornby.
New World St Martins store manager Gary Chubb said it was always busy before Easter, as people stocked up on chocolate eggs.
'We're likely to sell out a bit quicker than normal,' Chubb said.
During the lockdown, supermarkets had to restrict the number of customers entering the store, adding to the long queues on Thursday. Despite the length of the line, it was moving 'fairly quickly', Chubb said.
The supermarket was enforcing social distancing throughout the store, he said.
He asked customers to 'just be patient' and maintain social distancing.
Some supermarkets in the city were nearly out of Easter eggs.
AUCKLAND
Supermarkets in the Super City have seen queues beyond the store carparks and onto the streets, as social distancing makes for longer lines.
Social media suggests Pakn'Save and New World in Botany, Countdown Mt Roskill, Pakn'Save Māngere and Countdown Pakuranga all have queues that snake out onto the surrounding streets.
New World Devonport had even put up tents in the car park to protect those waiting from the chilly weather.
Ardmore resident Alyshia Emberson said she lives within 10 minutes of five supermarkets, however the lines and wait times had been 'unbelievable'.
'[It's taken] hundreds of metres and hours to get in, this is just a constant at all times of the day' she said.
She attempted to visit Pakn'Save Takanini at 7pm on Wednesday, thinking it would be quiet since the shop closes at 8pm.
'[There was] no way, easily 150 people stretched hundreds of metres in the dark.'
She understood the shop had to stay open an extra hour to accommodate those who had been waiting.
'There is no shelter in most places while people wait, so on a day like today in Auckland with gusty winds and rain it doesn't seem ideal to be stuck out in the open.
'We need to keep people well and help to reduce sickness, having people waiting out in the cold doesn't seem the best idea to me.'
HAMILTON
In Hamilton, Pakn'Save Mill Street had a line snaking around the carpark, past the Subway next door and all the way down to the KFC on Victoria Street.
Countdowns in both Rototuna and Anglesea Street were also busy with long lines.