British daily newspaper The Guardian reported that a Twitter user named Joey took to Twitter to inform people about the incident. He said, “Omg Jacinda Ardern just tried to come into Olive and was rejected cause it’s full. An hour later, he added: “Never mind they [the café] sorted her out.” Moreover, the New Zealand PM’s husband Clarke Gayford responded to his later, taking the blame for the brief ‘hiccup’ to their day.
“I have to take responsibility for this, I didn’t get organised and book anywhere,” he wrote. “Was very nice of them to chase us down st when a spot freed up. A+ service.”
The newspaper quoted a spokesperson for Jacinda Ardern’s office as saying that the political leaders in other countries may send staff ahead to make arrangements, adding that waiting at a cafe was something anyone could experience during New Zealand’s virus restrictions. “The PM says she just waits like everyone else.”
The café Olive’s owner, without providing his name, told New Zealand Herald confirmed that no exceptions were made for Ardern and that she was initially turned away by the restaurant manager. However, the manager then ran down the street minutes later, after a table became free, which he stressed is a courtesy extended to other customers. “She had a lovely brunch and left half an hour later. She was lovely with all the staff and we treated her like a normal customer,” he added.