Hi Christchurch, it’s us here at Cityscape. You’ve done so well through Level 4 lockdown, staying home and social distancing so we can keep everyone safe and get the city back up and running sooner.

But lately, something has slipped. We’ve seen the pictures of crowds on Sumner beach. Groups of people congregating on corners, at the end of driveways and in parks. Yarning. Smoking. Spreading those bubbles out wide.

Even the supermarkets suddenly feel different. You’re losing your respect of personal space, and it’s all getting a bit ‘lax out there.

Christchurch, it’s time to sort your shit out.

Things haven’t gone great for our city since Covid-19 arrived. We’ve had a spate of tragic deaths, and we need to do everything we can to stop any more from happening. Now isn’t the time to let the guard slip. Now is the time to double down and wipe this disease out.

Yes, you can order takeaways now – goodness knows we’re all taking advantage of that! And there’s nothing Cityscape wants more than to support our city, support our people, and support our local businesses and their staff. But just take care, won’t you?

Grab your coffee and take it home. Don’t stop to chat when you run into Chris from down the road on the corner. Tell him you’ll give him a call when you get home. Don’t have a picnic on the beach – it’s just going to have to wait for next summer. Get out and exercise, but don’t invade people’s space. The last thing anyone needs is joggers breathing all over their kids as you run past.

Christchurch, we know how bloody great you are. You don’t need to be in the news as the city that stuffed it up. You don’t need to be left behind when everyone else comes out of lockdown. You’re going to do it right, and get down to Level 2, and then Level 1.

Let’s all be positive. Take advantage of our Level 3 freedoms in the spirit they were intended. Support your local businesses from home. Order deliveries and pickups. Get some new kitchenware or some art to decorate the house you’ve been stuck in. Buy directly from businesses in our little economy – because every time you do, a real person does a happy dance. Help them keep up and running. Support jobs. Support Christchurch.

But do it safely.

We love you Christchurch. Don’t stuff this one up.