Covid-19: How Hawke's Bay will get through the lockdown

Irene van Dyk will be sticking to her daily routine and spending time walking her dog Hunter. Photo / Supplied

Unsure of what to do with your spare time the next four weeks? Hawke's Bay Today asked five well-known residents what they will be spending time doing during the four-week lockdown period. As the country moves into the Covid-19 level 4 alert non-essential businesses will close and people are told to stay inside. Here are some ideas about how you could spend your time.

Irene Van Dyk, Napier

Former Silver Fern Irene van Dyk shifted to Hawke's Bay with her husband in 2019. Now living in Napier, she will be spending the four weeks in lockdown keeping up her daily routine. Her days will start as usual taking her dog Hunter for a walk at 7am followed by doing some work from home and staying in contact with co-workers, family and friends.

"I think everyone is in a stressful situation so it's really important to stay in contact with people. This is the time when people need to feel valued," she said.

Irene believes this is the perfect time for parents to spend time with their children and play with them outside.

"You are forced to spend family time together so make the most of it".

She also recommends people get outdoors and suggests watching the sunrise and sunset.

"We have beautiful sunny days in Hawke's Bay so get outside and get some vitamin D, it's really important for happiness".

David Trubridge will be spending time cleaning out an old studio and creating content for the community. Photo / File

David Trubridge, Whakatu

The designer of the iconic wooden lights will be spending his time clearing out his neglected studio. When he first started in the design business 20 years ago Trubridge was working out of a home studio in Havelock North. After success in Europe and his business expansion he shifted to a studio in Whakatu. His studio became neglected and "a bit of a dumping ground" so he will be spending the next four weeks clearing it out and making it usable again.

"My business has kept me very busy with lots of travel and not enough time to my own thoughts.

"So, I am looking at this enforced confinement as a great opportunity," he said.

He is also looking at communicating his lockdown experience through video, blogs or online discussion. The David Trubridge team are looking at getting David to do weekly live Q+A videos and sharing a nature photo David has taken every day.

Ben Warren will be spending time with his family on their farm. Photo / Supplied

Ben Warren, Havelock North

Clinical nutritionist and founder of BePure Ben Warren will be spending time with his family on their farm. Their family grow 80 per cent of the food they eat on the permaculture-designed organic farm so farm chores such as checking on the bees will take up much of Ben's time.

He will also be spending more time with wife Lynda and children aged 9 and 12 doing yoga and meditating with his wife every morning and helping homeschool the children by becoming their woodwork teacher. The family are building a new letterbox as a family project over the next four weeks. He is also planning on building a cob pizza oven.

Ben will also be working from home during the lockdown period researching and creating diet, recipes and lifestyle content for the BePure community to support immunity and mental health at this time.

"I'm actually really looking forward to having four weeks at home," he said.

In between working from home, Hinewai Ormsby plans to re-pot native plant seedlings with her two children. Photo / File

Hinewai Ormsby, Waiohiki

Businesswoman and Hawke's Bay Regional Councillor Hinewai Ormsby is taking the time to work from home while looking after her two children. Her husband works in the health sector so Ormsby will be working from home every day while looking after her five and seven-year-old children.

"I'll be making sure they're feeling emotionally safe and have activities at home while I zoom into council and board meetings".

She will also be looking at new activities and new marketing strategies she can bring to the Napier Maori Tours business for next season.

The children and Ormsby will also be transferring seedlings to pots in the native tree nursery the family have. She also plans on going out for the odd family bush walk so they can stay connected with the outside world and nature without exposing themselves to any health risks. Getting outside will be important for peace of mind and to keep people's spirits alive.

"It just gives me more time to do those things I also love".

Blair Tickner will be spending the time working with his partner on coming out of the lockdown in a better position. Photo / File

Blair Tickner, Hastings

Black Caps cricketer Blair Tickner will be spending the lockdown working with his partner on putting themselves in a better position when they come out of the period. The couple own the 13th Stag café at the at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park so will be coming up with new ideas to start and things to add when they open again.

He also plans on spending the time exercising with the equipment he has at home, eating healthy and staying positive.

"When you have this much time, I think it's a time to reflect.

"I don't think we will ever have this much time off again in our lives," he said.

Charlie Wallace will be spending the lockdown working from home and writing new music with his band. Photo / File

Charlie Wallace, Taradale

Musician Charlie Wallace will be spending the four weeks making music, working from home and bettering himself.

"I see it as a time with no distractions and to come out at the end of this four weeks being insanely productive"

He will be working from home as his business Guitar Mastery Method offers online guitar lessons and he has seen a rise in people from around the world using the service while they are staying home.

The musician is also spending time with his band Black Smoke Trigger writing new songs for an album they are set to record at the end of the year with producer Michael Wagener.

He's working with the band's bass player in his home studio and communicating with other band members online.

Wallace also intends to level up his fitness from home.

COVID code • Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

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