Professor Michael Baker tears up as he recounts struggle for lockdown

Otago University epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker is an expert in infectious diseases - and he knew we were overdue for a pandemic.

But he also knew there could be a solution if we faced a deadly virus again. A 2018 video shows him discussing his plan.

"New Zealand is one of the few countries that actually could potentially shut its borders if we were confronted with a very severe pandemic disease," he says.

And just two years later his fears would be realised - COVID-19 arrives here.

"This was the most frightening pandemic I have seen in my working life," he tells Newshub National Correspondent Patrick Gower.

Prof Baker was one of the most vocal voices calling for action.

"Now is the time for maximum containment effort in New Zealand," he said on February 24 on RNZ.

"If we want to move fast, get ahead of the virus, we should be moving right up to level 4 as soon as possible and effectively use the shut-down approach," he said on March 22.

But would anyone listen to him in time?

"I went to meetings and everyone looked at me blankly, not quite like I was a complete idiot, but a bit of an idiot. They said 'why would we do that?'" he tells Gower

"And of course you say 'well actually, I'm not absolutely certain myself'. You're taking a position you think is logical but there isn't an evidence base to draw on."

Speaking to Gower for his On Lockdown documentary, he describes how this impacted him.

"I felt dreadful because I wasn't sure and you get the self-doubt. I felt just so uncomfortable, almost sickened actually," he tells Gower.

"I couldn't make the case strongly enough… I just felt that every day counted and we would basically lose the battle."

Watch the excerpt of Patrick Gower: On Lockdown in the video above.