Those over 70 and people with underlying health conditions were the first to feel the brunt of the lockdown, being told to stay home four days before the rest of the country.
Overseas experience has shown these two groups are the most at risk of dying from Covid-19.
New Zealand now has its own first victim of the virus after a West Coast woman in her 70s with a chronic health condition died at the weekend.
But are our seniors getting the message to stay home?
RNZ political reporter Jo Moir investigates.
