50,000 fans pack into concert in New Zealand - with no masks or social distancing

‘Our city has shown the world this week that in the midst of a global pandemic, we can live close to normality in Auckland’

(Getty Images)

Billed as the largest concert in the world since the coronavirus pandemic began, more than 50,000 people have attended a concert in New Zealand.

Rock band Six60 played to a sold-out crowd in New Zealand’s largest sports stadium, Eden Park, in Auckland, and no masks or social distancing of any type was required. The concert is seen as a testament to the success of New Zealand’s stringent controlling of the virus.

By closing its borders and having a diligent test and trace system in place, the country has chased a successful policy of zero-Covid. Since the pandemic began, New Zealand has recorded just 2,601 cases and 26 deaths.

The concert comes in stark contrast to much of the rest of the world where lockdowns are still in place, or being extended, and surges of infections are ongoing.

“Our city has shown the world this week that in the midst of a global pandemic, we can live close to normality in Auckland,” Mayor Phil Goff said in a statement.

Lucy Clumpas attended the concert and said it was a surreal experience to be surrounded by so many people after she spent last year living through lockdowns in Britain.

“It's very important for us as humans to be able to get together and sing the same songs together,” she said. “It makes us feel like we're part of something.”

Lead singer Matiu Walters said before the concert: “We know what it's like to be in lockdown. It sucked. And we didn't know if we'd be able to play gigs again, but we are fortunate, for a few reasons, here in New Zealand.”

With Associated Press