“Such is life:” Jacinda Ardern cancels wedding amid Omicron wave
Omicron has ripped through New Zealand’s borders, placing the country on its highest level of restrictions and cancelling the Prime Minister’s wedding with her fiancé Clarke Gayford.
The wedding was due to take place in the coming weeks at Gisborne on the North Island’s eastern coast.
When asked about her wedding cancellation, Jacinda Ardern responded; “Such is life. I am no different to, dare I say, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic.
“The most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they’re gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience.”
The new rules state that up to 100 vaccinated people can gather, but the prime minister said her wedding would not proceed in a restricted form.
“My wedding won’t be going ahead but I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic,” Ardern said.
“And to anyone caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry. But we are all so resilient and I know we understand we are doing this for one another and it will help us carry on.”
Ardern said that the country would try to slow the spread of Omicron, but it was expected New Zealand would reach 1,000 cases a day in the coming weeks and thousands a day after that.
“I know hearing these sorts of case numbers will sound deeply concerning for people to hear,” Ardern said.
“We’ll do everything that we can to slow the spread and reduce the number of cases we experience as a nation.”
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Clarke Gayford COVID-19 Gisborne Jacinda Ardern New Zealand North Island Omicron Such is life weddingLatest News
Qantas to help get Australians home from Lebanon with Cyprus flights
Free flights on Qantas Boeing 787 are able to bring home up to 440 Australians stuck in Lebanon.
Phu Quoc goes visa free to meet MICE tourism boom
This Vietnamese island has just made organising your next work event overseas a lot easier, and so have we... By proxy.
Women in Travel: Flight Centre’s Monique Van Gelder on not taking the easy road
Lessons can be learnt from mistakes... They can also be learnt by listening to industry guns like Monique Van Gelder!
Klook Travel Fest touches down at Sydney’s Carriageworks
You know if something's theme is in the vein of a video game from the 80's it's going to be a blast. We're serious!
Bali hotel development ban set for October
Bali has said enough is enough. But they're not talking about drunk Aussies for once, surprisingly.
White Bay Cruise Terminal to become first in Southern Hemisphere to offer shore power
Things are going green in Sydney Harbour. But it's not the colour of the water we are talking about.
Uplifting messages shared at G Adventures Tourism Summit in Jaipur
Travel has the power to transform communities, lift people out of poverty and give women independence. There were among the important messages coming out of GX India: World Community Tourism Summit which wrapped up in Jaipur on Friday. Among the special guests at the summit, which is set for Jordan in 2025, were Lonely Planet […]
Taiwan Tourism finishes Australian roadshow as visitor numbers surge
We do love a good roadshow! It's one of the best ways to learn about a destination, aside from actually visiting it.
Melbourne Airport unveils plans for major entertainment, leisure and retail precinct
Melbourne Airport's going all in on fun in Tullamarine, joining the laidback surfers at the wavepool. Shaka's all round!
The top off-grid locations in Japan
We don't care about the practicalities, we want a big square hole in our wall and we want it now.
ATIA announces Afterpay as the major sponsor for the Beyond Borders Travel Summit
We wonder if Afterpay uses Afterpay to pay their sponsorship fees? That is the question.
Uber to add kerbside pickup to Sydney International Airport despite taxi strikes
Can verify that, after a 26-hour flight from England, searching for the 'pick-up zone' is hell on earth.
Qantas soon to open enhanced Broome Regional Lounge
Why is it that the stock images before something has been built always look like something from Paranormal Activity?
Bookings now open for Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
If you're looking for a large waterfront venue then your answer may lie in Geelong.
Veriu Group’s Punthill Sunshine ready to welcome its first guests
When we lived down the road from Sunshine, liveability was not in the lexicon. Glad it is on the rise now though.
Business Events Victoria encourages applications for regional business events funding
A government grant always makes a conference a lot better!
Australian Tourism and Hospitality Skills Symposium set for Brisbane in November
First up, the Government needs to open the gates to more OS students with work visas so they can work in hospitality.
WTTC announces final line-up for 24th Global Summit in Perth
We wonder who will be running the travel world when all the leaders are in Perth next month. See you there?
Brisbane’s Calile and Hobart’s Tasman make global top 50 hotel awards list
Melbourne and Sydney look enviously on as Tassie and Brisvegas have their time in the sun.
Skroo weighs in on surging domestic airfares as footy fans set to be hit in hip-pocket
Flight Centre's data is compiled from thousands of flights every month, so we're taking Skroo's word on this!
New community tourism projects in India announced ahead of GX Summit
Travel Weekly is looking forward to reporting all about the GX World Community Tourism from Jaipur. We're excited.
TAG preferred travel partner for the 2024 World Business Forum in Sydney
The mullet has long gone, but he is still welcome in Australia.
Registrations open for Business Events Industry Aotearoa conference in Taranaki
This is the peak Business Events Industry event, being held by a magnificent New Zealand peak. How appropriate.
TravelManagers wraps up ‘best conference yet’ and reveals 2025 location
Not only did attendees have a great conference, they now get to plan a Bali trip, with a long weekend bonus!
Highlights of CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific
What do you get when you put a bunch of aviation workers in a conference centre? Lots of breaking news!
IHG Hotels & Resorts to present ‘The Mind Lobby’ at SXSW Sydney as major partner
Got what it takes to step into the Mind Lobby? We're not sure what it entails but we're guessing escape room.
The Catering Club launches new catering service for Sydney’s thriving events market
Can't pick your favourite out of this stunning gallery? You'll have to order them all!
Langham Hotels Group partners with HXE for new online MICE booking service
We're getting down to the nitty gritty of MICE news here... But we know you're into that sort of thing!
Iconic Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel’s bold reimagining as part of Dusit Central Park
It was THE place to go once upon a decade, and now it is set to reclaim that space, say its owners.
Surry Hills building that famously burnt to the ground set for $40m+ hotel renovation
Are you dating a pyromaniac? Consider Valentine's Day plans sorted... Once the renovations are complete!
Drifter Christchurch welcomes Rambler restaurant and bar in heritage space
The place has evolved from knitwear factory to hotel and bar. But hopefully it's still as cosy.
CAPA Airline Leader Summit, the biggest regional aviation event of the year, is set to open in Brisbane
This is on at new The Star, so we are expecting lots of oohs and aahs, and a late night at a very busy Sky Deck.
Soneva The Residences offers service staff as part of luxury Maldives villas offering
Trip to the Maldives anyone? We don't think we need to stick around to hear your answers!
Qatar Airways voted World’s Best MICE Airline by industry experts
Qatar wins another airline award... They are getting almost unbeatable!
Magnatech partners with Link Travel Group to enhance Travel Management efficiency
With phrases like "maximise operational efficiency", we'll leave this one to the experts.
Marriott Bonvoy Lounge set to host 2024 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 guests
When they say 'this is the pits', we hope this lounge is the sort of pits they are talking about.