Brexit. Yes totally stupid and difficult to undo quickly.

Back in the 1970s when the U.K. joined the European market, New Zealand lost it's (by far) biggest trading partner (unlike Brexit it was not of their choice). It took twenty, painful and hard working years to replace that market. Unfortunately, this close example of the cost of Brexit was mostly brushed off at the time.

The result for New Zealand was that it moved into Asia. With good management it is a prosperous and enjoyable country of around 5 million people.

BTW: Total covid deaths in New Zealand is 27.