People are panic-buying water, sanitiser and other essentials, causing lengthy queues at many supermarkets after confirmation of the first coronavirus case in New Zealand. But experts are urging calm, and say there is no need for panic.
Queues were out the door at at least one Pak'nSave this morning and shelves were being cleared out, following similar lengthy queues at many Auckland supermarkets last night.
One shopper said it was as if people were "stocking up for the apocalypse".
At Pak'nSave Royal Oak in Auckland there were lengthy queues out the door of the supermarket by 7.30am and many items were out of stock.
University of Otago Professor of public health Michael Baker said: "For the moment, it's really just business as usual across New Zealand. We're not looking at community transmission at all, as I think, has been pointed out."
The chief executive of Foodstuffs - which owns PakN'Save, New World and Foodstuffs - tweeted his support and praise for his staff this morning. Chris Quin urged people to "just shop normally and we will make it work".
Well that changed fast in our supermarkets team been calls through the night and doing an amazing job of supporting customers and stores, people should try and just shop normally and we will make it work.
"I've never seen anything like this, I couldn't even get into the carpark."
Lines are out the door at Pak'nSave at Royal Oak. Photo / Supplied
She said people were queuing for the tills from the back of the supermarket.
"It's unbelievable. You've got people shopping in pairs with one person sitting in the queue and the other person racing around getting things and stuffing it in their trolley. "I've never seen anything like it. It's absolutely nuts."
Russell said despite the queues everyone seemed calm and patient. Staff were repacking the shelves as quickly as they could but people ended up just taking items directly out of the cardboard boxes.
Many people posting on social media described panic-buying, while checkout operators said it was busier than Christmas time.
Shoppers stocking up at Pak'nSave, Lincoln Rd, Auckland. Photo / Supplied
Another woman who was loading her car with baked beans said she tried to shop last night but did a lap of the car park before giving up on finding a spot and coming back this morning.
"It's crazy."
Another man in one of the many queues around the store said his wife was doing the rounds while he waited in line.
A man who was loading his boot with bottles of water, canned food and spam said he was stocking up his supplies following the confirmed coronavirus case in Auckland last night.
He wasn't worried about a potential outbreak but once people started panic-buying he thought he would jump on board so he didn't miss out.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff yesterday afternoon asked residents to remain calm.
"Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation in line with World Health Organisation guidance and I encourage Aucklanders to remain calm. The ministry will advise if any public health measures become necessary."
Shoppers at Pak'nSave Wairau.
Shopper Raj told Newstalk ZB's evening host Marcus Lush that the queues at Royal Oak Pak'nSave last night in Auckland were huge.
"The lines are massive across all aisles - it's just crazy. I just gave up and came back home."
He says he saw a lot of different items in people's trolleys - but lots of tins and water.
"I walked in and there were no trolleys left and I thought this is ridiculous, I only wanted to buy one thing: onions for a sausage sizzle. I had to wait in line for ages.
"There were people in masks all around and panic-buying stuff. Water was getting sold out."
"I tried to make a joke of it, like I said 'we're all going to die' and this lady was like 'aren't you scared, why are you not scared, you should be scared'."
He said it was sad people were so stressed.
"People were [talking about coronavirus] especially at the checkout point.
"It took me a good half an hour to get though [buying onions]. I was on the 12-item isle. But there were people waiting there for ages."
"They were still coming when I left. The car park was full."
Shoppers at Pak'nSave Wairau.
The Ministry of Health confirmed a person in their 60s who flew in from Iran on Wednesday is in Auckland City Hospital with coronavirus after being taken there by family.
They are in an isolation ward and public health officials have begun tracing other people they have been close to, including passengers on the flight.
