Working from home during lockdown might free up time for a little DIY, a touch of gardening, the odd walk around the block or more time with the children.
Darren Rogers and Joshua Davies hard at work at Egmont Seafoods. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
But for other workers its business as usual, or even busier than ever.
Lepperton dairy farmer Mark Hooper is hooking his spreader onto his tractor and about to take advantage of the good weather and spread urea on his tiring paddocks.
Hooper, who is the president of the Taranaki branch of Federated Farmers, said lockdown had come at a busy time.
"We're in the midst of calving one of the busiest times of the year in terms of labour requirements, so people have been head down and very busy and the days are full anyway. So, in terms of normal farming operations no change."
Lepperton dairy farmer Mark Hooper said lockdown had come at a busy time. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Hooper said a typical August day starts at 5am with milking and feeding calves.
Then it was off to bring in new-born calves and feed out before doing some paddock maintenance ahead of the afternoon milk.
There was little time for outings with the kids.
"No there's not and I guess we have been seeing a bit of that around and perhaps in a sense farmers are not enjoying the opportunity to relax a little bit or do extra activities.
"It's been very much full on on farm. It is the busiest time of the season."
Egmont Seafoods general manager Caleb Mawson said there were online and supermarket orders to fill, as well as a small amount for exports. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Over at Egmont Seafoods the filleting knives were a blur processing the latest catch.
General manager Caleb Mawson said its small fleet was operating as an essential service.
"At the moment we've got about four boats operating for us. They're a mixture of fishing methods long-lining, trawling and set netting.
"So long as they're sticking within their bubble - they've only got three to four people on a boat - so they can make sure they are keeping their distance and doing the right thing."
His team had 300 online orders to fill as well as preparing fish for supermarkets in Auckland and New Plymouth, and a small amount for export.
Darren Rogers preferred to be at work. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Darren Rogers was on the floor, he's a whizz with a filleting knife.
"We've just been filleting and boning snapper and a bit of lemon fish and tarakihi and whatever else this orders need.
"I'm just skinning it, grab it and shaking it. Skin's off and he'll bone it ... and do it again times a hundred."
He was not too worried about being at work.
"Oh it's all right and we've had a few days off already and I don't mind coming into work really. It can get a bit boring at home. Yeah, it's all good for me."
It was business as usual for Waste Management driver Ravinder Singh who was emptying wheelie bins in New Plymouth.
He was philosophical about it.
"Well someone has to work, you know, we are the frontline workers, so the industry we are in it's more essential. The priority ones. You know, it's quiet on the roads and easier for us."
But not everyone's still of working age.
Lockdown hasn't made too much difference to Lepperton retiree Jim Sullivan. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Retiree Jim Sullivan lives in the village at Lepperton.
He was taking lockdown in his stride.
"I haven't noticed any difference at all really apart from that the cafe can't open and that's quite busy during the week.
"Apart from the cafe not opening nothing else really has changed people can still go to the dairy and get their paper and get their milk and whatever they want to get.
"You just can't go visiting that's all, but it doesn't matter you can say hello over the fence."
