We Want To Hear From As Many People As Possible, Says COVID-19 Inquiry Chair

With four days remaining until the close of public submissions, Grant Illingworth KC, Chair of the COVID-19 Inquiry, wants to reiterate how important it is that the Inquiry hears from as many people as possible about their COVID-19 experiences.

“Hearing from the public is a very important part of the work of the COVID-19 Inquiry,” Mr Illingworth says. “By hearing about a wide range of experiences, we can understand the impact the pandemic and New Zealand’s response to it had on New Zealanders, as well as what the public think should be done to address future pandemics.”

The Inquiry’s public submissions portal has been open since 3 February 2025, and closes at midnight on 27 April 2025. Anyone who wants to make a submission can either fill in the on-line form at www.covid19inquiry.nz, or by calling 0800 500 306.

Resources for making a submission are available in English, te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, New Zealand Sign Language, Easy Read, Braille, Audio, and Large Print.

“We want to hear from individuals, communities, businesses, iwi, and others on how their lives were affected and changed during the pandemic. These experiences will help us provide careful, considered recommendations to the Government on how our country can be prepared to respond to future pandemics.”

The Inquiry is currently reviewing key decisions the New Zealand Government made in response to the pandemic between February 2021 and October 2022. A key decision is one made by the Government that had a significant impact on a large number of people or had a significant cost at a national or regional level (or both).

The Inquiry’s focus is on three main areas:

• Vaccines, including the use of mandates, the approval of vaccines, and vaccine safety
• Lockdowns, especially the national lockdown in August and September 2021 and the Auckland/Northland extended lockdown late 2021.
• Testing, tracing, and other public health tools.

When reviewing these decisions, the Inquiry will consider potential lessons on how best to balance people’s health, social needs (including things like education and contact with friends and family) and economic impacts.

So far, the Inquiry has received more than 7300 submissions from the public.

“Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to make a submission to the Inquiry so far,” Mr Illingworth says. “We are very grateful to everyone who has shared their experience, especially as many of these experiences are not easy to share.

“The COVID-19 pandemic was an incredibly difficult time, and many people are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and the response to it, whether those be physical, emotional, or financial.”

Vaccine mandates is a topic of significant focus for many submitters to date from across Aotearoa New Zealand. The use of lockdowns is also a frequently discussed topic, particularly among residents of the Auckland and Northland regions.

“We are pleased to have heard from people across all regions of Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as from a range of age groups and ethnicities,” Mr Illingworth says.

“Everyone experienced different impacts from the pandemic and the Government’s response to it,” Mr Illingworth says.

“The broader the range of people we hear from, the better the picture we can build of Aotearoa New Zealand’s pandemic experience to help us identify lessons that can be learned from the pandemic response.”

As part of its work, the Inquiry is also seeking evidence from a range of sources. Over the coming months, the Inquiry will be holding interviews with key decision makers and advisors, holding engagements with key communities impacted by the pandemic, and collecting information and evidence, including from Government departments. The Inquiry will also be holding public hearings later in 2025.

“The Inquiry’s overall purpose is to ensure we learn the lessons from the pandemic response, and to make sure Aotearoa New Zealand is prepared for any future pandemics,” Mr Illingworth says. “Our goal is to provide recommendations – that can be understood by all New Zealanders – to help build a strong response for the future.”

Submissions can be made to the Inquiry through our online portal www.covid19inquiry.nz or by calling 0800 500 306. Submissions close on 27 April 2025.

Find out more about the Inquiry at https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommission.nz/. 

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