Handle9:
The covid response has always been intensely political. You are messing with peoples rights to move, associate and work.
Well "everything is politics".
For the most part though, there's been consensus between parties and widespread public support (almost unanimous) for the elimination strategy.
The media has consistently been putting grievances from minorities adversely affected on the front pages, and while that's not to say that those affected don't deserve full sympathy and support - and details of NZ's response such as affecting those exposed to scrutiny - IMO at times it's been unhinged and unbalanced.