Introduction
Sets the book's purpose as a "diary of the plague years," documenting the stories of everyday people who were excluded, silenced, gaslit and stigmatised during the pandemic.
A Science Teacher's Odyssey
A teacher describes being treated as a pariah by colleagues and eventually facing career termination for refusing the vaccine. She sold her Auckland home and moved to a South Island cottage to start a new, self-sufficient life.
From Trust to Mistrust
The author details her transition from proud trust in the government to feeling coerced into a first vaccination dose. She later joined the Parliament protest to stand against what she saw as the loss of democracy.
The Road to Hell …
After witnessing what she felt were illogical health measures at a rest home, the author resigned and faced profound family divisions and social exclusion. She found peace in the formation of a breakaway home group church.
All the Things You Cannot Say
A resident describes the atmosphere of fear and seeing his social circle shrink as he became an outlier. He recounts being excluded from a local woodworking group because he was not "on the team" regarding vaccinations.
Bemusement of the Vague Year
A record of life in the city and the absurdity the author observed, combined with an epistolary exchange containing further political observations.
A Shopping Expedition
A German immigrant compares the mandates to historical propaganda and recounts being treated with contempt for her mask exemption. She eventually lost her long-term job but met brave and courageous people through her new isolation.
Stronger Together
A teacher describes her termination and the transformative experience of the Parliament protest. After being shunned by her community, she reinvented herself as a private tutor contracting directly with the Ministry of Education.
Power and Control
A therapist compares the government's pandemic responses to abusive tactics. He shares the personal hurt of being summarily let go from a family violence agency after fifteen years of service.
Annus Horribilis
The author details her toughest year, spent in a stressful legal battle to maintain her employment while working from home. She eventually celebrated a small victory by being reinstated with full benefits.
Dissidents of the Two-Tier Society Speak Out
A couple describes researching alternative media to understand pandemic risks and the pain of their GP daughter telling them they would likely die without the vaccine. They eventually chose financial freedom over medical compliance.
Much Ado About Nothing
Using a theatrical metaphor, the author critiques the government's fear campaign and the use of PCR tests. She recounts the social bullying that became acceptable behaviour during the vaccine rollout.
Moving On
The author describes the emergence of local groups and the impact of the mandates in his beach community. He recounts a moving moment at the Wellington protest involving a young man with Down Syndrome performing a haka.
Blessings in Times of Trials
After fifteen years of volunteering, the author was terminated and barred from her students' award ceremony. She reflects on the blessings of the time, including the creation of home group churches.
When Insanity Stares You in the Eyes
The author details losing a 25-year friendship after his friend became paralysed by fear. He finds joy in meeting like-minded friends and exploring his inner world.
The Long Way Home
After losing her partner in London, the author navigated a stressful international journey to return to New Zealand. She describes being wished dead in a supermarket but eventually finding a new community in the "Butterfly Café".
A Chance Encounter
A chance encounter on a coastal path led to the formation of a local Freedom Group that met in a circle using a talking stick to share their experiences. The author details how professional women were broken by the mandate environment.
In the Hands of Invisible Power
The authors describe the distressing experience of managed isolation, where they felt treated as dangerous disease carriers. They recount how their daughter was isolated at school for her mask exemption.
Zombie Nation
The author describes the experience of being excluded from family events and a vivid dream of reclaiming her town. She recounts a stressful journey south where she was nearly turned away from parking spots for her vaccine status.
The Greymouth Skeptics Story
A group formed to distribute flyers and conduct research in the West Coast region. The author describes mass maskless shopping excursions to challenge what they saw as the absurdity of the time.
Living the Dream?
While living on their farm, the author and her partner were shocked by family members who refused to visit or cut them out of wills over their vaccine choices. She reflects on gaining a new purpose through these trials.
Back to the Present Moment
After a bereavement trip to the UK, the author returned to a changed New Zealand and faced difficult managed isolation conditions. She eventually lost her hospitality business but found resilience in focusing on the present moment.
The Covid Times
The author recounts losing her job as an online assessor and her family's struggle with vaccine-related injuries. She describes the gift of finding the "Butterfly Café" support network.
Death, Discrimination and Remote Control
The author describes the experience of carrying a mask exemption card and the pain of her family members' behaviour. She recounts being barred from shops and having to try on shoes on the pavement outside.
Out of the Ashes
A veteran nurse describes being charged with serious misconduct for calling the vaccine "experimental" before being terminated. She shares finding solace in caring for her father and leading a home group church.
A Nightmare
The author details a friend's cognitive decline during lockdowns and his daughter's subsequent health difficulties. He finds hope in his daughter's eventual successful pregnancy and the support of like-minded people.
A Nurse's Story
After thirty-eight years of nursing, the author was stood down and barred from the hospital, even to say goodbye to colleagues. She found joy in continuing her second job gardening for the elderly, who respected her choice.
The Right to Be
The author describes the atmosphere of the lockdowns and the pain of being barred from his parents-in-law's home at Christmas. He details his protests at local schools to speak against the lack of medical transparency.
The Them and the Us
The author details the stress of being excluded from her daughter's prize-giving and the divisive mentality of her community. She found support in a group of excluded people who even started a fund to help those who lost their jobs.
Doing More Than We Are Told
The author critiques the anticipatory obedience of society and the personal burden of watching friends suffer serious illness. He reflects on the difficulty of being unable to prevent injuries among colleagues.
Tattoo Artist
A self-employed artist describes the threat of government control that forced him to shut down his business and sell his properties. He recounts losing his voice after shouting in protest against the loss of his livelihood.
No Going Back
Returning from a ten-day hike, the author felt as though she had entered a segregated society. She recounts the strangeness of seeing vaccine pass signs in every shop window and the fear of a world she no longer recognised.
Who Gets the Upper Hand?
The author describes her scientific concerns regarding the vaccine and the eventual loss of her job and home. She reflects on the fear that gripped society and finding solidarity among a new community.
The True Face of Kindness
A final reflection on the damage done to the friendly nature of New Zealanders and a reminder that true kindness lies in recognising our shared humanity.