The True Face of Kindness is a collection of personal narratives and first-hand accounts from everyday New Zealanders — teachers, nurses, therapists, business owners, artists and retirees — documenting their experiences of being excluded, silenced and stigmatised during the pandemic. It moves beyond statistics to provide a vivid portrait of the human face of politics, detailing the transition into a two-tier society and the subsequent loss of careers, homes and relationships.
Why It Was Compiled
The book was assembled to provide a platform for stories that were suppressed or forgotten, and to document the deep disparity between the official government narrative of "kindness" and the reality of how dissenters were treated. It serves as a diary of the plague years, intended to prevent the quiet erasure of this period by future historians, and to offer a space — primordial and healing — for people to be heard and understood.
What Period It Covers
The chronicles span the "covid crazy years" in New Zealand, from the onset of the pandemic and the initial lockdowns in early 2020, through the mandate era, and into reflections recorded as late as 2024.
Who Will Find It Valuable
Future historians seeking a record of the social and professional consequences of the mandates. Civil liberties advocates interested in a critical reflection on democracy and the fragility of human rights. Those personally affected by the mandates who seek validation, healing, or a testament to the courage of those who maintained their integrity. And anyone interested in resilience — the book highlights the silver linings and the new communities that formed as alternative support networks when existing ones fell away.