[throwaway788]

Over the entire pandemic to date, NZ has had lower levels of restrictions than all other OECD countries. For the majority of the pandemic there were zero restrictions and businesses and people were operating as normal.

NZ had a election mid-way through the pandemic and overwhelmingly re-elected the current government based on the approach being taken. Under the MMP system the current single party government is unique (governments are normally coalitions of multiple parties – like Germany).

These talking points from right-wing media about Australia and NZ suffering and having civil liberties destroyed is so far from the truth that when seeing news items covering it from the USA, it is so absurd to be comical.