By Miles Anderson.

OPINION: Rural New Zealand can be a pretty quiet place at the best of times and for the next four weeks it will be even more so. Every community relies on its people to help each other and rural ones more than most. As a rule, we usually know what our neighbours are up to, the regular vehicles on our roads and help to keep an eye on things as we are going about our day-to-day business.  

The Covid-19 lock-down could change all of that. We will mostly be working alone to maintain our 'bubble'. No school runs or trips to town for sport, instead just once a fortnight trip for groceries and only the odd stock truck or tanker coming down the road. Many remote properties have set themselves up so they won't go out at all for the lock-down.  

Farming businesses are reduced to essential tasks and many are running a skeleton crew and reduced work programme. The usual farm visitors who help to keep an eye out are also absent - no one doing firewood, no roar hunters or duck shooters setting up for the season. This means even fewer people out and about than normal and some real opportunities for mischief. With longer nights and no one around, conditions are prime for those unique rural crimes - stock rustling, vehicle and fuel theft and poaching.