The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant upheaval to societies across the world, forcing governments to adopt emergency measures to manage the public health crisis. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the government’s response to COVID-19 has been widely praised for its effectiveness in controlling the virus and protecting public health. However, beneath this success story lies a troubling increase in state power, surveillance, and restrictions on civil liberties, all justified under the guise of “protecting” the population. From an anarchist perspective, this period of heightened government control poses serious concerns about the reinforcement of authoritarianism, and it calls for a critical reflection on how we balance public safety with personal freedom.
State Power and COVID-19 Restrictions
The New Zealand government’s response to COVID-19, particularly during the early stages of the pandemic, involved stringent lockdowns, border closures, and the widespread use of digital surveillance tools like contact tracing apps. While these measures helped curb the virus’s spread, they also expanded the state’s reach into citizens’ lives, normalising state intervention in ways that would have been unthinkable pre-pandemic. For anarchists, this overreach of state power is particularly alarming, as it reinforces the very structures of domination and control that anarchism seeks to dismantle.
Under the guise of public health, governments worldwide have implemented measures that limited freedom of movement, assembly, and speech. New Zealand’s stringent lockdowns, while necessary for containing the virus, came with curfews, police checkpoints, and increased powers for law enforcement to ensure compliance. The use of surveillance technologies such as the NZ COVID Tracer app and data collection methods have raised concerns about privacy and the long-term implications of normalising state surveillance.
The justification for these measures often revolves around the idea that they are temporary and necessary for the greater good. However, history shows that “temporary” restrictions on freedoms can easily become permanent fixtures, especially when the state benefits from the increased control. As anarchists, we must question whether the state’s expansion of power during the pandemic was truly in the public interest or whether it represented yet another step toward a more authoritarian society.
An Anarchist Critique of Authoritarian Responses
From an anarchist perspective, the state’s response to COVID-19 highlights the fundamental dangers of relying on centralised authority to manage crises. The use of emergency powers to enforce lockdowns and implement mass surveillance not only limits individual freedoms but also strengthens the state’s monopoly on violence and control. Anarchists argue that the pandemic should not serve as an excuse for governments to consolidate power, but rather as an opportunity to build more resilient, self-governing communities that can address public health challenges without relying on coercive, top-down measures.
One of the key problems with the authoritarian response to COVID-19 is that it treats citizens as passive subjects who must be controlled rather than as active participants in their own safety and well-being. By centralising decision-making and enforcing compliance through law enforcement, the government removes agency from communities and individuals, reinforcing the idea that the state knows best. In contrast, anarchism advocates for decentralised, community-based responses to crises, where people take collective responsibility for their health and well-being without the need for coercion.
Mutual Aid: A Decentralised Alternative
In response to the pandemic, anarchists around the world have turned to the principle of mutual aid—voluntary cooperation and support among community members—to address the needs of those most affected by the crisis. Mutual aid networks emerged in New Zealand and globally, providing food, supplies, and emotional support to those in need, particularly marginalised communities that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Mutual aid offers a powerful alternative to the authoritarian responses of the state. Rather than relying on government mandates and surveillance to ensure compliance, mutual aid emphasises solidarity, trust, and shared responsibility. By building networks of care and support, communities can take control of their own health and safety, reducing their reliance on state intervention. This decentralisation of power is a core tenet of anarchism, which seeks to empower individuals and communities to make decisions for themselves, rather than deferring to external authorities.
Moreover, mutual aid networks are inherently adaptable and responsive to the needs of specific communities, unlike the one-size-fits-all solutions imposed by the state. In Aotearoa, mutual aid efforts included food delivery for vulnerable populations, mental health support groups, and even community-led contact tracing initiatives that prioritised privacy and voluntary participation over state-mandated surveillance.
Toward a Decentralised Public Health System
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the shortcomings of centralised, state-driven responses to public health crises. Anarchists propose that a more resilient and equitable public health system would be one that decentralises power and relies on grassroots, community-led initiatives rather than top-down mandates. Such a system would prioritise transparency, voluntary participation, and mutual aid, ensuring that people have the resources and support they need without sacrificing their freedom and autonomy.
In this vision, public health becomes a collective responsibility, not a tool of state control. Communities can establish their own safety protocols, manage their own resources, and support one another through mutual aid, building a system that is more responsive to their needs than the distant and often unaccountable state apparatus.
Conclusion
While New Zealand’s government has been celebrated for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of state power, surveillance, and restrictions on civil liberties raises important questions about the rise of authoritarianism. Anarchists challenge the idea that centralised authority is necessary to manage public health crises and advocate for decentralised, community-based alternatives rooted in mutual aid. As we move forward, it is crucial to remain vigilant against the normalisation of state overreach and to continue building systems that empower communities rather than control them.