Coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern praised for declaring Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy 'essential workers'
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has eased children’s concerns by confirming that the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are considered “essential workers” during the coronavirus pandemic.
As families face celebrating Easter in lockdown, the PM gave the children’s favourites the all-clear to continue operating.
“You’ll be pleased to know that we do consider both the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny to be essential workers,” Ardern said during a press briefing on Monday.
Read more: Online classes and activities children can take part in during lockdown
But she also helped ease pressure on parents by warning children it may be “a bit difficult at the moment” for the Easter Bunny to make it to all their homes this weekend.
“As you can imagine, at this time they’re going to be potentially quite busy at home with their family as well and their own bunnies.”
“I say to the children of New Zealand, if the Easter Bunny doesn’t make it to your household, we have to understand that it’s a bit difficult at the moment for the bunny to get everywhere.”
The 39-year-old leader also shared a message “for the kids of New Zealand” on her Instagram asking them to take part in The Big New Zealand Easter Egg Hunt to “make this Easter extra special.”
Children are being asked to colour in the Easter egg template she posted or to design their own then stick it in a window at home so everyone in their street could “have the chance to hunt for eggs this weekend”.
Read more: Easiest ways to get children into gardening
The PM also vowed to share some of the designs on her social media accounts, asking for parents to share the pictures on social media with the hashtag #NZEggHunt.
Since reassuring her Easter Bunny update, Ardern has been praised by parents who are keen to make the celebration as normal as possible for children, who have seen their lives massively disrupted by the coronavirus.
Quality chat from our PM about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy 😂😂
Luckily I got our kids some chocolate eggs earlier than usual this year! pic.twitter.com/4c1RU0iFMz— Andrew (@KloppGoff) April 6, 2020
Having been told that a reporter had received a letter from a child wondering if the Easter Bunny would be exempt from the lockdown, New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern once again showed why she is one of the great world leaders. pic.twitter.com/KtR3eY1w99
— Nick Harvey (@mrnickharvey) April 6, 2020
I love this woman!
Jacinda Ardern confirms Easter Bunny is classed as an “essential worker” but it might be “difficult for the bunny to get everywhere” in current circumstances. pic.twitter.com/3RfBqrMYJr— Shane Pearce 📻 (@ShanePearce) April 6, 2020
Love this woman!#leadershipgoals
Coronavirus lockdown: PM Jacinda Ardern addresses the Easter Bunny and t... https://t.co/egIKBRolOe via @YouTube— Magenta (@rebstew999) April 7, 2020
Similar to the UK, New Zealand was placed on a “level four” lockdown on 25 March, with only essential workers allowed out to work to try to stop the spread of COVID-19.
