Goldfinch); University of Otago (
Gauld) Trust in government might be perceived as a reservoir that can be drawn upon when needed so that citizens are willing to take what might be unusual and indeed (for them) unprecedented actions. Both Australia and New Zealand are perceived to have managed the COVID-19 pandemic well, with higher rates of testing and lower rates of mortality than many other countries. In that context, this study asked: Has trust in government been affected by the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand? How does trust affect the management of the pandemic? What is the relationship to confidence in scientific expertise measured by confidence in public health scientists? In addition to addressing these questions, the research explores practical implications of trust in government vis-à-vis associated use of the Covid Safe/Covid Tracer App (phone application).