For the past few weeks, a box of KFC fried chicken has been sitting in Lee Henaghan’s freezer.
He bought it on the final day before New Zealand entered level-4 lockdown on 26 March, which saw restaurants and takeaway outlets close all over the country.
As the weeks ticked by, Kiwis started reporting fever dreams involving their favourite takeaway foods. Instead, they were stuck at home trying to recreate them, with mixed results.
But Henaghan, from Richmond on New Zealand’s South Island, was smug. He had anticipated the supply and demand issue and kept that frozen box of KFC until he could take it no more. He called it “Operation Sanders”. When the chicken was finally defrosted, he was convinced that he was the only person in the entire country who ate an actual takeaway meal that night, right from the comfort of his own home.
He was unsure if the meal would retain its flavours but after the first bite, all his fears melted away.
“Best meal of lockdown, hands down,” he said.
The countdown begins: In 3 days’ time, at 6pm, I will defrost and devour 3 pieces of Original Recipe chicken I froze on lockdown day and rejoice as the only person in NZ eating KFC for dinner. 😋 pic.twitter.com/u722jtgCLL
— Stay home (@leehenaghan) April 15, 2020
But on Tuesday, thousands of others will share his joy. Restaurants, cafes and takeaways will be back in business.
Under the move to level-3 restrictions, which come into force at midnight on Monday, New Zealanders have been told to work and study from home, “unless that is not possible”. Anyone going out must obey social distancing rules. Businesses can open, but cannot physically interact with customers and “low-risk” recreation activities will be allowed.
Restaurants will be required to follow a number of public health measures to protect the safety of staff, including physical distancing which must be in place in all kitchens. Customers will not be allowed inside restaurants, bars and cafes and businesses will have to sell prepared food and non-alcoholic drinks by contactless delivery and collection.
Despite the restrictions, media outlets have been keenly reporting which takeaway outlets will be opening and doing live crosses to TV reporters outside McDonald’s restaurants. Some New Zealanders have become somewhat eclectic with their wish lists.
What’s everyone gonna eat this week? I’m gonna get a veggie mac from Ralph’s, dumplings in spicy sauce from Eden Noodles, bento box from Cocoro, lu’au pie from Blue Rose, smoked warehou pate and sourdough from Amano, and 2 doz from Mahurangi oysters. So far.
— Leonie Hayden (@sharkpatu) April 26, 2020
However, not everyone is excited about the move to level 3. Opposition MP Judith Collins suggested the level-4 lockdown had been too harsh and said not much would change with level 3. She preferred a more Australian-style approach to stamping out the coronavirus, where many businesses have remained open, including restaurants and cafes who are able to sell takeaway meals, but not serve patrons at tables.
“[Level 3] looks a lot like level 4 but with KFC, doesn’t it?” she told the AM Show. “That’s about it really ... It doesn’t look much good for a lot of businesses, but there will be some who will be saying: ‘At least I can do takeaways’.”
