The Queen calls Jacinda Ardern to discuss coronavirus in New Zealand after the PM declared the country had won its battle against the virus and relaxed lockdown
- NZ PM Jacinda Ardern had a 'catch up' on the phone with the Queen on Tuesday
- Her Majesty showed her 'affection for NZ' and interest in the COVID-19 situation
- On Tuesday, the Commonwealth country came out of five weeks of lockdown
- The Queen last visited NZ in 2002 but still has a memory of places and events
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had an intimate 'catch up' over the phone with the Queen last night.
The country has just relaxed parts of its coronavirus lockdown and Ms Ardern said the Queen was 'interested in what's happened here'.
The prime minister posted a picture of herself on the phone on Instagram on Tuesday night, detailing how the Queen showed her 'affection for New Zealand' during the call.
Ms Ardern posted a picture of herself on the phone to Instagram on Tuesday night, detailing how the Queen showed her 'affection for New Zealand' and interest in what's happening there
Queen Elizabeth II (left) and NZ PM Jacinda Ardern (right) at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2018. The pair had an intimate 'catch up' over the phone about New Zealand's progress with COVID-19 on Tuesday night
'A few days ago we got a wee note to say that the Queen wanted to catch up and see how everyone in New Zealand was getting on in the midst of COVID-19,' Ms Ardern wrote in the post caption.
'It was such a treat to speak with Her Majesty tonight. Her affection for New Zealand, her interest in what's happening here and her memory of places and events that are special to us never ceases to amaze me.'
The Queen last visited New Zealand to share her Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, stopping at Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington along the way.
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Despite last visiting the country 18 years ago, Her Majesty still has a 'memory of places and events that are special to us', according to Ms Ardern.
The NZ PM announced on Monday that her country has 'achieved elimination' of coronavirus within its borders.
'There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand,' Mr Ardern declared. 'We have won that battle.'
The Queen visited New Zealand to share her Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. Despite last visiting the country 18 years ago, Her Majesty still has a 'memory of places and events that are special to us', according to Ms Ardern
New Zealand moved from alert level 4 to Llvel 3 of lockdown on Tuesday, meaning that shops and schools can re-open while public gatherings of 10 people are now allowed for weddings and funerals.
There were also huge queues outside restaurants and cafes - including McDonald's - as they reopened on Tuesday morning.
Borders could soon be re-opened between Australia and New Zealand under a 'travel bubble' scheme being discussed by Ms Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
New Zealand has suffered only 1,124 confirmed cases and 19 deaths - including just two new cases in the last 24 hours - after moving quickly to impose a lockdown in March.
Meanwhile in Australia, there have been 6,729 confirmed cases of coronavirus, which have resulted in 89 deaths, as of Wednesday.
The NZ PM announced on Monday that her country has 'achieved elimination' of coronavirus within its borders and that the country would go from Alert Level 4 to Level 3 of lockdown on Tuesday
