Looking back over the past 12 months, we probably all share the feeling that we have come through an annus horribilis, the worst of years.
It was one in which everyone’s life was affected to some extent by lockdowns, job losses, business failures, and the stress of living through a pandemic even though New Zealand has been far more fortunate than other countries.
Experiences like this are rare and why it is so important to learn the lessons because something like this will happen again. Indeed, even though vaccines are coming on stream, there is still some way to go before something like normal transmission resumes.
So, what has been learned and what are the opportunities we can take from this?
It was a year we will all be glad to put behind us and have a break from, but when we come back refreshed these questions still need answers.