view took place over four days giving Mike a chance to visit the library site and meet the library executive team, as well as academics and other senior staff at the university.
The offer of the job came an hour before Mike and Wendy were due to travel to Auckland airport for their return flight to the UK. Mike indicated that he was very interested there and then, and that he would confirm when he got back to the UK – subject to visa approval. He set about securing that visa immediately on his return, submit- ting the documentation on 31 March 2020.
And then the full effects of Covid hit, with New Zealand effectively closing its borders from April. Visa applica- tion processing was also suspended. An alternative, emergency clearance method was proposed in August, but it still took four months before official approval came.
That set in motion the final prepara- tions for the move, including finalising a house sale and booking flights. On 24 January 2021 Mike and Wendy board- ed a flight to Singapore on the first leg of their journey to New Zealand and a new life in Dunedin.
26 January: Tuesday – Arrive at Auckland airport. Transported to Four Points hotel in Auckland CBD. PCR Test. Jet lag tactics. Great room on 19th floor with views over CBD and a balcony for fresh air.
Arriving in Auckland meant a regime of regular Covid tests, and isolation in their hotel room. And while self-isola- tion didn’t prevent Mike from begin- ning work, there was to be further disruption ahead.
1 February 2021: Monday – Public holiday in Auckland. Start work. Zoom meeting with acting librarian. Plenty to read and planning to do.
June 2021 Mike Wall.
Tuesday – Wendy starts having a few symptoms in the evening. Coffee finally arrives (there were no deliveries at week- ends or on public holidays).
Wednesday – Wendy reported symp- toms (cough…). Wendy has a swab test. Mike request for a test turned down. Misunderstood (interpreted) a Maori ‘greeting’ in an email from a colleague, no harm done but illustrates how much I have to learn.
Thursday – Wendy had a positive test result. Mike reported a sore throat. Moved from Four Points to Jet Park quaran- tine hotel. Following advice we are kept together as it was likely that I would be positive. Mike has a test. Really hard day. Feeling like we don’t know what has happened or why. Otago really support- ive – just concentrate on getting better and supporting each other. Feeling guilty about not working, whilst supporting Wendy – it’s not your fault. Spend time reviewing what we have done, who we have had contact with since 19th Janu- ary. We can’t recall a situation where we
haven’t been careful and followed Covid safe procedures. Baffled by test result. Advised not to use social media to disclose the test results.
A series of negative test results followed for Mike, and advice came that Wendy and Mike should isolate separately. Mike is able to return to work after supporting Wendy through the worst of her symptoms.
11 February 2021: Thursday – Day five. Another day, another swab test. Woke up with a headache and a cough. Headache didn’t leave me all day. Good meetings with members of the Library Exec – learning about some of the important issues of the moment, includ- ing the 2020 budget out-turn and the 2021 (likely to be provisional) budget, space management challenges and prepa- rations for another potential lockdown. Great first meeting with my new boss – very supportive of the work the library is doing and of my personal situation in managed isolation. Really bad shivers late evening and overnight.
Friday – Day six. 09:00 phone call from INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 39
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