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Regular-article-logo Monday, 06 May 2024

PM? So what? Cafe turns away Ardern

Café offers her seat as soon as one becomes free; her partner takes blame on himself

Reuters Melbourne Published 18.05.20, 12:01 AM
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses a news conference after the 2020 budget at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand on Thursday, May 14, 2020.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses a news conference after the 2020 budget at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand on Thursday, May 14, 2020. (AP)

Hailed for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner were turned away from a cafe on Saturday because it was too full under the physical distancing guidelines.

Ardern’s government relaxed many social distancing rules on Thursday, reopening cafes, cinemas and malls after two months of some of the tightest restrictions in the world to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

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Ardern and Clarke Gayford walked for a brunch to a cafe in the country’s capital, Wellington, where they were initially told it was too full, New Zealand media reported. An employee ran after them a few minutes later when a table became free and the couple went back.

Gayford took the blame on himself.

“I have to take responsibility for this, I didn’t get organised and book anywhere,” Gayford said on Twitter. “Was very nice of them to chase us down when a spot freed up. A+ service.”

The Prime Minister’s media service said waiting at a cafe was likely with the virus restrictions. “The PM says she just waits like everyone else,” the public Television New Zealand cited Ardern’s mesia service as saying.

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