Doing well in a pandemic is not just about what you do during a pandemic. It is about preparation. The team of 5 million did many things well but we could have done better. Now is time for lessons to be learned – bubbles to be burst, anger to be channelled and voices to be heard. The legacy of COVID-19 must be to create a country – and a world – better able to withstand the shock of the next pandemic. This book aims to record the events as they occurred without opinion or prejudice. It is a resource for us all as we work towards creating a fairer and less fragile Aotearoa New Zealand.