Time will tell
As New Zealand prepares to exit alert level 4 lockdown and take its first tentative steps towards a new normal, it is timely to reflect on the tests, trials and triumphs of the past unprecedented month.
It seems likely history will judge New Zealand’s initial response to the pandemic favourably. The Government’s decision to “go hard and go early”, backed by a largely impressive public health response and Kiwis’ strength and determination to stay the course, appears to have paid off — at least in terms of the human cost of the virus.
Our low death toll, while undeniably sad, and our low number of cases, must be considered remarkable in the circumstances, and credit should be given where it is due. Most would surely concur we have had the right leader at the right time in Jacinda Ardern — whom the Atlantic praised as being “possibly the most effective leader on the planet” and a Government whose approach of elimination not just containment has meant “New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve. It’s squashing it”, as the Washington Post gushed.
The Government’s decisive action and Ardern’s clear, consistent communication and empathy have helped New Zealanders remain calm, comforted and confident. Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has provided a similar level of quiet and informed assurance.
Which other prime minister thought about kids in lockdown and designated the Easter Bunny an essential worker? What other governments will be remembered as instructing citizens to “be kind” as part of their official messaging?
There have been glitches and in terms of the longer-term impact of the crisis, it is early days. We may later look back and feel fortunate in our leadership at crunch time but the long months and years ahead, when strategic thinking and decision making will be vital and a likely global food crisis and severe economic recession await, may prove a far harder row to hoe.
Only time will tell the full story.
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