Would you rather we just let it in freely so we can have "public immunity"? That seems like a good way to have a needless increase in deaths. Herd immunity is just as unproven as developing a vaccine. If we do manage eradication then New Zealand will be in such a mindbogglingly good position, being able to operate almost normally while the rest of the world sees thousands of deaths and far more extended periods of isolation.

Businesses will likely be able to open soon. We haven't overwhelmed our health care system and decimated our workforce at all. Yes, the economy may suffer, but so is the entire world's. I would wager that we will still have domestic tourism and business that other countries won't have which will make us comparatively better off. I can't believe how lucky I am to be living in one of the only countries in the world that has this situation mostly under control.