New Years Honours: Sir Ashley Bloomfield’s most memorable Covid presser moments

Dr Ashley Bloomfield now Sir Ashley Bloomfield has become a familiar face to all New Zealanders in the last three years, after fronting up hundreds of daily Covid-19 press conferences and keeping Kiwis up to date with the latest numbers and advice on how to stay safe in the pandemic.

His quick wit and occasional eyebrow raising made headlines and turned Sir Ashley into one of the most iconic faces of New Zealand television.

The man who kept New Zealanders informed and often smiling through some of the country’s toughest times in recent history is now Sir Ashley Bloomfield. He has been made a knight companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit as part of the New Year 2023 Honours, for services to public health.

To mark Sir Ashley’s knighthood, we look back at some of his greatest TV moments.

His reaction to Chris Hipkins’ “spread your legs” advice

@nzherald

Your daily reminder to STRETCH your legs during #lockdown #nz #newzealand #fyp #foryou #level4 #stayhome #covid #ashleybloomfield #news

♬ original sound - nzherald

That time he was asked about high-risk activities

@nzherald

What ever happened with this one? #nz #newzealand #news #fyp #foryou #risky #nzlockdown #jacindaardern #ashleybloomfield #nztiktok #xyzbca #auckland

♬ original sound - nzherald

That time he was about about drinking bleach

@nzherald

Don’t ask Dr Ashley Bloomfield about bleach. #ashleybloomfield #jacinda #thuglife #coronavirus #nz #newzealand #fyp #foryou #news #newzeland

♬ original sound - nzherald

That time he danced during the vaxathon

@ieatyourpillows

His name is now Papa Ashley 😂 #fyp #polytiktok #cookislandtiktok #nz #nztiktok #ashleybloomfield #spreadyourlegsnz #supersaturday #newzealand

♬ original sound - yale 🇳🇺🇰🇮

His dubstep remix that featured in summer festivals across NZ last year

Bloomfield stepped down from his role at the end of July, almost a year before his five-year term was due to end in June 2023.

It was announced this month that he will take on a new role in the new year, as a professor at the University of Auckland, where he’ll help establish and then chair its new Public Policy Impact Institute.