one morning I woke up to a brave new world.
every worker who had worked through the pandemic, who risked her or her life with infection, treating and healing those who were already sick, or fed those who couldn’t feed themselves, kept the factories running, servers humming and fields irrigated, those who kept the generators running at full capacity so people would stay comfy at home, watching Netflix and homeschooling their children, every person who worked while most people didn’t… all these persons, so-called essential workers were rewarded with permanent residency.
Of course, the dream didn’t last. I woke up that morning to a dream, a dream that will never happen in New Zealand.
You would think New Zealand would have reason to do so though. New Zealand, miraculously, has done better than 99% of the world in weathering the covid19 pandemic that has infected nearly 200 million globally and has caused more than 2 million deaths.
Because of closing the borders early, contract tracing and political will, NZ has kept the infections to a minimum, and life in New Zealand is nearly normal. But essential workers have also pulled their weight and done their share. “Essential workers” are loosely defined as anyone who performs a task to keep the health and economy going, and without which life couldn’t go on.
in some cases, these workers received special recognition bonuses from their companies, who incidentally did very well during the lockdown. some didn’t. But I’m talking about what government should do because of the sacrifices these people did.
Canada chose to give their essential workers permanent residency, and that’s not a dream. It’s reality.
I don’t see it happening in New Zealand, because, well because gratitude just isn’t the same everywhere. New Zealand usually does the right thing and it’s heart is in the right place, but based on history and expectations based on past behavior, it just won’t do the same.
Nothing much to say here further, but to those in power in New Zealand, all we have to say is: hint, hint.
