We are living in strange times. The world is chaotic and unforgiving at this moment in history and a path forward seems confusing to imagine. The pandemic has exposed the strengths and weaknesses of people, societies and governments and what happens next is largely up to the people in charge of implementing protocols for the citizens of countries across the globe.
My perspective is somewhat unique as our family recently moved back to New Zealand from the United States in late August. I have viewed the US response to the pandemic and can only describe it as disastrous. No matter what your view of Trump is, the response from the federal government has been universally regarded as one of the worst in the industrialized world. The federal health protocols surrounding pandemics had been weakened, even though previous administrations knew that something like Covid-19 was inevitable. Once the pandemic arrived in the US, its impact was vastly downplayed. Once the seriousness of the pandemic became apparent, no plan was implemented. The wearing of masks became a political weapon, distinguishing the left from the right. The science put forward by the very able officials in charge of overseeing the data and the release of relevant public health protocols was not so casually pushed aside in favor of grandstanding and the carrying out of political vendettas. Ego, bluster and vindictiveness operated where competency, transparency and accountability was needed.
Covid-19 exposed our family to the gaping holes in the US political machine and we felt our time in the states was over. We decided to leave by May of 2020. We touched down in Auckland after our twelve hour flight from San Francisco. This flight held less than forty passengers and the international terminal at SFO was a graveyard. The economic devastation of this pandemic was starkly apparent during this transcontinental journey. People are scared. People are uncertain about the future and the people in the United States have been abjectly failed by their leaders.
Once we touched down, we were met at the gate by airport and security forces and brought to the Crowne Plaza in Auckland. Everybody was friendly. Everybody answered nervous questions with patience and grace. The armed services at the hotel checked us in and we began our two week quarantine. It was tedious but overall, the experience was overwhelmingly positive. For the first time since February, our family felt we were taking part in a concerted effort to mitigate the spread of this pandemic. Not only were we taking part in a plan but taking part in an EFFECTIVE plan. The immediate goals and ultimate outcomes were clearly defined by the government. We watched many of the daily briefings and were nearly overcome with emotion by the basic decency with which these exchanges took place. Jacinda Ardern, Ashley Bloomfield and others faced difficult questions and provided clear, informative answers while taking responsibility for missteps and miscalculations. Hearing the words, “We can do better, we must do better” was musical. At last, competency and accountability.
It is now early October. Our two children are preparing for their first physical day at school since March. Meanwhile, back in the US, their classmates languish in online school. Since arriving in New Zealand, we have sat in cafes without masks, and dined in the spring sunshine with dozens of other patrons. We travel freely for hiking, fishing, meeting with friends and any other activity or chore that we either need or want to accomplish. The days of masks seem very far away. Of course, Covid-19 is out there and frankly, it will probably return to New Zealand. But Kiwis know this. They know this because they have leaders they can trust. They have leaders that are smart, decent and highly competent. It’s not perfect and people get frustrated but having a plan that stresses science and is operated with transparency and with clear objectives is not something to take for granted. Our family, for one, feels lucky and privileged to be here. New Zealand should be proud of what they have accomplished together as a whanau, as a nation. We are happy to be here and to call New Zealand our new home.
