The Prime Minister has urged New Zealanders to stay at home as much as possible to slow the spread of coronavirus, even before the country enters a full lockdown at midnight on Wednesday.
But based on how some people blatantly refused to comply with previous isolation and social distancing advice, it's unlikely that everyone will follow the rules.
That's worrying – considering experts say a lock down will only be effective in containing the virus if everyone does their bit. So, what should you do if your nana, brother or mate won't?
Associate professor Craig Fowler of Massey University's school of communication, journalism and marketing specialises in health and interpersonal communication. He explains how concerned Kiwis should talk to their loved ones who are breaking the rules.
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YELLING AT THEM ISN'T WORKING, HOW DO I CONVINCE PEOPLE THIS IS SERIOUS?
While your first instinct may be to react angrily to people who think they know more about the virus than academics and medical professionals, losing your cool won't help you convince them they're wrong, Fowler says.
"They aren't going to change their mind if you call them an idiot. You're going to have to suppress the urge to smack them down."
Instead, Fowler recommends people speak to isolation flouters calmly, while still conveying the urgency of the situation.
"You're going to have point them respectfully and calmly to stories that really make clear just how bad things are."
One way to do that would be to direct people to reports from medical staff in the US or Italy who are trained to stay calm but are genuinely terrified by the effects of coronavirus they're seeing in hospitals.
MY NANA (OR OTHER OLDER RELATIVE) IS STILL GOING OUT, HOW DO I TELL HER SHE NEEDS TO STAY HOME?
Even before New Zealand's alert level was raised to three, health authorities urged people aged 70 and older and those with chronic health conditions to stay home because they're more likely to die from coronavirus if they're infected.
However, social media posts by millennials worried about their parents and grandparents seem to indicate some older people are still heading out and about.
Fowler says the best way to approach the inevitably awkward conversation with your elders about why they need to stay home is to be honest.
"It's a good time to remind your older family members that you care about them. You don't have to be manipulative about it but you can explain that when they take risks with their health that weighs heavy on you.
"If your older relatives are in good health, you can [tell them] how important it is to you that they stay in good health.
"If they're not currently in good health then you explain that they're playing Russian Roulette if they keep going out and socialising. If you look at the reports coming out of Italy, 99 per cent of the fatalities are people with underlying conditions. I think you do have to stress just how vulnerable they are."
While Fowlers acknowledges long term social isolation is linked to health problems among older people, he says coronavirus is a much bigger risk to their health than loneliness.
"Not seeing someone for a few weeks isn't going to kill you but Covid-19 could."
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MY FRIENDS THINK IT'S OK TO HAVE A PARTY BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG, HOW DO I CONVINCE THEM NOT TO BE SELFISH?
Throughout the coronavirus outbreak, stories of young people ignoring warnings to avoid close contact with others have hit headlines around the world.
Students on spring break in Florida flocked to beaches. Meanwhile, in Dunedin hundreds of scarfies attended a huge St Patrick's Day party.
Often, young revellers justify their behaviour by quoting statistics which indicate their age group is much less likely to suffer serious side effects from coronavirus.
