Inquiry timeline Ngā wātaka o Te Uiui

This page outlines a timeline of the Inquiry's activities so far and into the future.

Timeline of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā

5 December 2022

The Royal Commission is announced

The New Zealand Government announces The Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned I Te Tira Ārai Urutā.

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1 February 2023

The Royal Commission begins

The Inquiry secretariat begins work to gather evidence.

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February-March 2023

Planning and establishment

The Inquiry conducts initial meetings with public service agencies, sets out a project plan in order to report by the required date, and appoints key staff to the secretariat.

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April-June 2023

Gathering public information

The Inquiry begins gathering the wide range of publicly available information about the COVID-19 response, reviewing over 1,300 documents.

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April-June 2023

Engaging with public service agencies

The Inquiry continues to meet with various agencies and other public service organisations to learn about the COVID-19 response.

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May 2023

Website launch

The Inquiry launches its website and makes media appearances to inform the public of its work.

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July-September

Direct engagements

The Inquiry focuses on direct engagements with key figures involved in the COVID-19 response, as well as representatives from health, education, and business sectors, and from Iwi and Māori organisations.

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July 2023

Visit to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

The Inquiry conducts its first visit to Auckland to hear pandemic experiences.

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September 2023

Visit to Tairāwhiti Gisborne

The Inquiry visits Tairawhiti Gisborne to hear pandemic experiences from health providers, education providers, local government, and Iwi organisations.

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September 2023

Visit to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

The Inquiry returns to Auckland for a second visit, meeting with large businesses, local government officials, Iwi and Māori organisations and ethnic community leaders.

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October-December 2023

Direct engagements continue

The Inquiry meets with education providers, service providers, and health providers online, in Pōneke Wellington, and around Aotearoa, with 153 engagements including more than 650 people during this time.

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October-December 2023

Synthesis of evidence

The Inquiry completes the first round of synthesis of all evidence received to date.

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October 2023

Preparing for public submissions

The Inquiry plans to launch submissions in November 2023. Submissions are deferred to February 2024 to enable the new Government to consider changes to the Inquiry’s terms of reference.

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October 2023

Visit to Ōtautahi Christchurch

The Inquiry visits Ōtautahi Christchurch to meet with health providers, aged care providers, businesses, rural and farming representatives, and local government.

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November 2023

Visit to Kirikiriroa Hamilton and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

The Inquiry visits Kirikiriroa Hamilton to engage with the health sector, local government officials, and businesses, and visits Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland for further engagements with businesses, social service providers, Pasifika and ethnic community representatives, and NZ Police.

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November 2023

Visit to Tāhuna Queenstown

The Inquiry engages with businesses and local government in Tāhuna Queenstown.

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January-March 2024

Evidence analysis

The Inquiry continues to analyse the evidence received from direct engagements to build findings about the pandemic response that will inform the final recommendations from the Inquiry.

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January-March 2024

Direct engagements continue

The Inquiry holds meetings in Pōneke Wellington, online, and around Aotearoa with the communications, business, media, research, and cultural sectors, and with community leaders and the disabled and rainbow communities, totaling 340 direct engagements with over 1600 people.

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February 2024

Public submissions open

The Inquiry launches public submissions, asking people to share their COVID-19 pandemic experiences and insights into preparing for any future pandemics. As part of this process, the Inquiry attends events around the country to promote the opportunity to make a submission.

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February 2024

Consultation on the terms of reference

The Government indicates it intends to expand the terms of reference for the Inquiry, and the Inquiry undertakes a public consultation about the terms of reference on the Government’s behalf.

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February 2024

Visit to Te Tai Tokerau Northland

The Inquiry meets with Iwi organisations, health providers, local government and emergency management officials, businesses, education and social service providers, members of the community involved in the pandemic response, older people, secondary school students, and workers.

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February 2024

Visit to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

The Inquiry meets with community groups, tertiary graduates and students, business owners, and the disabled community.

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February 2024

Visit to Tauranga

The Inquiry meets with horticultural workers.

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March 2024

Visit to Ōtepoti Dunedin

The Inquiry meets with representatives from charitable and not-for-profit organisations including social service providers, the disability community, ethnic communities, and representatives of other vulnerable communities, including refugees.

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March 2024

Visit to Ōtautahi Christchurch

The Inquiry meets with young people, Ngāi Tahu, and community volunteers.

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March 2024

Visit to Heretaunga Hastings

The Inquiry meets with seasonal workers and Pasifika communities.

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March 2024

Public submissions and terms of reference consultations close

Both opportunities close at the end of March 2024.

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April-June 2024

Direct engagements continue

The Inquiry continues to meet with various organisations in government and in the health and social sectors.

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April-June 2024

Evidence analysis continues

The Inquiry reviews further evidence to begin formulating lessons learned.

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May 2024

Submissions results

Analysis of public submissions is completed. The Government announces receipt of the feedback on the terms of reference.

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June 2024

Phase Two announced

The New Zealand Government announces that the Inquiry will occur over two phases. Phase Two will begin in November 2024 and will involve new Commissioners and an expanded terms of reference.

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August-September 2024

Natural justice process for Phase One

The Inquiry must ensure that any person mentioned in an adverse finding is aware of the matters on which the finding is based and has had the opportunity to respond to those matters.

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2 August 2024

New Commissioner appointed

Grant Illingworth KC is appointed as Commissioner for the Inquiry.

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27 August 2024

Phase Two announcements

Judy Kavanagh and Anthony Hill are appointed as Phase 2 Commissioners alongside Grant Illingworth KC, who will act as Chair for Phase Two. Terms of reference for Phase Two are announced.

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28 November 2024

Phase One report delivered

The Phase One report, which covers all topics included in the Phase One terms of reference, is completed and delivered.

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29 November 2024

Phase Two begins

Phase Two of the Inquiry, with new Commissioners and an expanded terms of reference, begins. This Phase is due to report February 2026.

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18 December 2024

Minute 1 is published

Phase Two of the Inquiry publishes its first Minute, which gives guidance on the terms of reference, Inquiry procedure, confidentiality, and the submission of evidence for Phase Two.

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January 2025

Section 20 orders sent

The Inquiry begins sending section 20 orders to Government agencies to gather written information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response.

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3 February 2025

Public submissions portal opens

Phase Two opens an online portal to formally collect submissions from the public.

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17 March 2025

Minute 2 is published

The Inquiry publishes Minute 2, which contains guidance on the Inquiry’s evidence gathering processes.

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March 2025

Phase Two completes its establishment phase

Key aspects of the Inquiry establishment phase are completed including the appointment of members of the Secretariat, and Inquiry procedure determined and adopted.

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April 2025

Consideration of Phase One public submissions

The Inquiry announces that Phase One submissions and feedback provided on the Phase Two terms of reference will be considered as evidence by Phase Two, provided it is relevant to our work and is not confidential.

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April 2025

Interviews and engagements begin

The Inquiry begins interviewing key decision-makers and advisors and holding engagements with a range of stakeholders in order for them to share their experience of the pandemic.

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27 April 2025

Public submissions portal closes

The online public submissions portal closes.

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May 2025

Public hearings announced

The Inquiry announces that public hearings will be held in July and August.

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June 2025

The Inquiry undertakes regional engagements

The Inquiry travels to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Te Tai Tokerau Northland, Ōtautahi Christchurch, and Kirikiriroa Hamilton to hear experiences of the pandemic from a range of organisations, community groups and individuals.

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26 June 2025

Minute 3 is published

The Inquiry publishes Minute 3, which contains guidance on the decision to hold public hearings.

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7 July 2025

Public hearings

The Inquiry holds the ‘pandemic perspectives’ week of public hearings in Tāmaki Makaurau to hear a range of experiences of the pandemic. The hearings are livestreamed and media are able to report on the proceedings.

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August 2025

The Inquiry decides not to proceed with week two of public hearings

After former Ministers decline to give testimony as part of a public hearing, the Inquiry decides not to proceed with the planned second week of hearings, and to collect evidence in other ways. The Inquiry issues a Minute (Minute 4) on this decision.

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16 September 2025

Minute 5 is published

The Inquiry publishes Minute 5, which details further evidence gathering processes for the Inquiry.

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September 2025

Evidence gathering continues

The Inquiry continues to interview key decision-makers and gather written evidence regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response.

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October 2025

Natural justice process

The Inquiry undertakes a natural justice process as part of its work. This is to ensure that any person mentioned in an adverse finding is aware of the matters on which the finding is based and has had the opportunity to respond to those matters.

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December 2025 - February 2026

Report development

The Phase Two report is finalised and prepared for submission to the Governor General in February 2026.

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26 February 2026

Phase Two ends

The final report of Phase Two is delivered to the Governor General and the Inquiry ends. The Government considers and releases the report at a future date to be announced. Information from the Inquiry is archived with Archives NZ.

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