Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Anyone watching the news in the evening will know that the effect of COVID-19 around the world continues to be a devastating one, something that we have largely been able to avoid here in New Zealand, although, of course, we remember those who did lose their lives to the virus early on in the pandemic. Around the globe, we see the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and the very beneficial position that New Zealand has been placed in because of our elimination of the virus. Our response has been ranked as one of the best in the world by both Bloomberg and the Lowy Institute. On average last year, we had the fewest restrictions and the most freedoms of any country in the OECD.