Tourism angle was the money-maker (especially the south island). Damaged a fair number of the hotels and tourism operations. From my 2018 trip there, surprised at level of Chinese tourists...probably a thousand a day flying into Christchurch.
Yes, NZ's population-adjusted fatality total of 1,391 in the second quarter was quite low. But NZ's economy contracted 12.2% in that quarter. Thus, NZ surrendered financial health and civil rights for low pandemic fatalities.
Or did they? Based on the trend line, if NZ's economy fell 12.2%, then there should have been over 950 fatalities (i.e. 65k size-adj fatalities that equate to about 950 fatalities for NZ's population) versus the 21 fatalities they posted.
Maybe NZ suppressed their numbers, like China?