Here is the thing about global emergency decision-making processes, which I have worked on for some years, including on this specific one: the main determinants of response are
1. information inputs
2. Ideological constraints

There are others (a lot of others including capability) but those are the main ones.

In our present situation, condition 2 (ideological constraints) has been essentially removed from the equation. Everyone credible basically agrees on the optimal course of action.

In early C19 cases, including China, condition 1 was dominant because nobody knew what the fuck was going on. In China, once information flows were sorted, condition 2 rapidly became dominant because authoritarianism. In many other countries condition 2 is still dominant now.

In many places it is complicated by multiple layers -- state/federal systems and such. These don't much change condition 1 (information wants to be free after all) but they massively compound condition 2. There are probably ways to handle this but nobody has got them sorted yet.

Back to NZ. We are mostly unconstrained by condition 2 ideological bullshit. That means we have a rare opportunity to just make decisions based on condition 1: information flows. Because this pandemic is exogenous, everyone basically gets the same information inputs.

So the govt has information inputs and the oppn has information inputs and the media has information inputs and this here social media crank farm has inputs and, to a first approximation they are all the same information inputs because information wants to be free. And it is.

So because we all have the same information inputs and we are ideologically basically unconstrained, we mostly arrive at the same consensus together. Within a few days of each other. Tracking this via social media makes it absolutely bleeding obvious all the way through.

So consensus is shared (symmetrical), but the response potential is asymmetrical. By which I mean that you and I can type "If I were PM I would simply lock down now" and that's it, done, point scored, preen a bit and move on. But govt can''t do that. Govt has to actually respond.

Responses, if they are to be any goddamn use at all, take time and resources to plan and prepare. Phenomenal amounts of time and resources. The delta between idea and implementation seems like several days to a week or so at the moment,. Which is fast as fuck on these timescales.

But during the implementation delta, flagging what the response looks like has potential to open up condition 2 (ideological) constraints again. Every man and his dog wants to have a word. Fuck that. In an emergency you don't stand around talking, you get shit done. So govt STFUs

So because of circadian social/media rhythms, that implementation delta is also just happens to be the precisely optimal amount of time for preening and such to turn into something that looks like a lobbying campaign. And govt STFU is often indistinguishable from idleness.

And so by the time the Sam Morgans and the Matthew Hootons have all had their word and preened a bit and the emergent consensus becomes the obvious thing to do, the govt has almost figured out how to invent a system to actually get it done without condition 2 constraints.

And then they announce it, and they look like followers. And to some extent they are followers. But they're folling the same big information inputs from the global crisis response. As are we all. And woe betide those who don't, or are prevented from doing so by condition 2.

So the govt are foloowers. But they're not following Simon Bridges. He's following the same inputs, but faster because he doesn't have implementation responsibilities. And that is GOOD. It is his job to anticipate the emergent consensus and give it voice and hold the govt to it.

This is how the system SHOULD work. And on the best evidence, it IS working. All of these people, even your nemesis who you think is acting in bad faith, has a role in it. Anything that harms this balance has potential to reintroduce condition 2 constraints and then we're fucked.

So. Love thy Tory neighbour at this time. We are all in this together. This bird needs two wings to fly.