Two and a half years ago, he introduced himself at a media conference to discuss what was then called a novel coronavirus.
“Kia ora koutou katoa,” was the greeting. “My name is Dr Ashley Bloomfield and I’m the director-general of health.”
Since then, he’s advised Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on lockdowns, closing the borders, shutting down Auckland, masks, vaccines and fronted about 307 media conferences. His likeness has adorned tea towels and T-shirts and he’s been crocheted into a small toy.
But Friday is Ashley Bloomfield’s last day. He spoke to Stuff just after 8am about his time in the role.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield attended 307 press conferences as Director-General of Health to discuss New Zealand’s Covid-19 response.
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STUFF
Dr Ashley Bloomfield, who we’ve come to know as the face of New Zealand’s fight against coronavirus, steps down from his role as health chief at the end of the month.
Bloomfield became director-general of health in June 2018, taking over from embattled predecessor Chai Chuah.
On April 6, 2022, he announced he would step down a year before his term ended, citing stress as the key reason and saying he’d like to take a break and spend time with his family.
Now, thanks to an overzealous sister, there is a pile of clothing sitting at home with his face on it, unworn but appreciated for its humour.
He said his family has been a “fantastic support” and his home has been free of Covid chat. But the pressure had been high, gradually lifting as his final day neared.
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with them – and not having Covid in my head all the time.”
He leaves at a tough time in the healthcare system. “We knew this was going to be a really high pressure time throughout winter,” he said. “I’m satisfied with everything we did to protect our healthcare system.”
But like the minister of health, Bloomfield wasn’t calling it a crisis. “I don’t think this is a breaking point.”
He’s kept plans for the future close to his chest. “There’s genuinely no firm plan,” he said. His final day would be spent saying his goodbyes to colleagues, “really just having that final chance to talk to the staff who are really just great people”.
An enduring memory would be the “banter” he and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shared off-screen. “One of the things the Prime Minister and I had was a level of comfort with each other.”
“I apologised to her for sometimes being a bit irreverent,” he laughed. He had total faith in the leaders he had worked alongside to continue to do their best for the country.
Bloomfield’s replacement is former head of the Cancer Control Agency, Dr Diana Sarfati.
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