Glossary | Covid-19 Lessons Learned

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Term	Definition
ACC \| Te Kaporeihana Āwhina Hunga Whara	Accident Compensation Corporation – the New Zealand public service agency that administers the no-fault accidental injury compensation scheme.
aiga	A Samoan language term for family unit, household. In Samoan culture, aiga consists of a wide family group of blood and marriage or even adopted connections who all acknowledge the matai (head of the family).
Alert Level System	The sliding scale of public health and social measures used in Aotearoa New Zealand’s COVID-19 response from March 2020 to November 2021. The sliding scale used 4 levels, called alert levels.
all-of-government	A term used to describe issues, rules or processes that apply to, or involve, all the agencies and organisations that make up Aotearoa New Zealand’s public service. It denotes unified and joined-up processes involving many government agencies.
Auditor-General \| Tumuaki o te Mana Arotake	An independent officer of the New Zealand Parliament responsible for auditing public sector spending and performance.
Aviation Security Service	The operational arm of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority responsible for aviation security at security designated airports.
booster	An extra dose of a vaccine administered some time after the initial course to renew or increase immunity.
Border Executive Board	An interdepartmental executive board established to deliver an integrated and effective New Zealand border system. Members of the Board were made jointly accountable to the Minister for COVID-19 Response for delivering strategic improvements to the border system.
bubble ('extended bubble', 'household bubble')	A concept used to describe small groups of people who were permitted to interact with one another during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Cancer Control Agency \| Te Aho o te Kahu	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for providing leadership and oversight of cancer control and uniting efforts to deliver better cancer outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Care in the Community (CiC)	The name given to the programme set up to support people with COVID-19 who were directed to isolate at home.
Caring for Communities (C4C)	A governance mechanism, established in July 2020, to ensure coordination of the COVID-19 welfare response across social sector government agencies.
Chief Human Rights Commissioner	The Chair of the Human Rights Commission, alongside up to four other Commissioners.
Chief Science Advisor	An individual appointed to independently provide scientific advice to the Government, and to comment on and contribute to scientific issues and debates of public importance. Chief Science Advisors are appointed to specific agencies and to the Prime Minister.
Civil Defence Emergency Management Group	A statutory joint standing committee that is made up of mayors or chairs of member local authorities, or a committee set up by a unitary authority that has governance responsibilities for emergency management.
civil defence emergency management system	Refers to the system, led by National Emergency Management Agency and including regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, that manages the response to national and local emergencies.
Classification Office \| Te Mana Whakaatu	The independent Crown entity that provides ratings for films, videos and publications to protect people from harmful content.
Commissioner of Police	The Chief Executive of the New Zealand Police, who is accountable to the Minister of Police for the administration of police services but acts independently in carrying out law enforcement decisions.
*community isolation (see also home isolation)*	The term used to refer to the policy of requiring people with COVID-19, and their close contacts, to isolate/quarantine in their place of residence.
Community Panel	A group of community leaders / representatives from across the country and different communities, established by the COVID-19 All-of-Government Response Group in 2021, to ensure advice to government had input from communities.
community transmission	When a disease is spreading in the community and is not linked to a known international or border source (such as a recent traveller from overseas).
co-morbidities	Other diseases or health conditions a person has (besides any COVID-19 infection).
contact tracing	Where a person has been diagnosed with an infectious disease, identifying that person’s contacts (downstream) and index or source person (upstream) in order to contain the spread of infection.
Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS)	A framework to coordinate the management of incidents across agencies involved. It includes principles, structures, functions, processes and terminology that agencies can apply in both emergency and non-emergency incidents.
coronavirus	A group of viruses that cause respiratory infections in humans, other mammals and birds. Coronaviruses can cause mild disease, such as a cold, or more serious disease such as SARS, MERS and COVID-19.
*COVID-19 (see also coronavirus)*	The disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 is also widely used to refer to the virus (e.g. ‘COVID-19 transmission’) and to the pandemic caused by the virus (e.g. ‘our COVID-19 experience’).
COVID-19 All-of-Government Response Group (also known as COVID-19 Group)	A group established on 1 July 2020 to oversee and coordinate New Zealand’s response to COVID-19. The Group took over from the ‘Quin’ and the National Crisis Management Centre (which had led the response from mid-March 2020). The Group operated under the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and was staffed mainly from other agencies across the public service.
COVID-19 immunisation strategy	The Government’s approach to delivering COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible New Zealanders – including infrastructure, logistics, training and administration. Unlike the COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy, the immunisation strategy comprised a series of decisions and was not clearly set out in a single document.
COVID-19 Protection Framework (the 'traffic light system)	The sliding scale of public health and social measures used in Aotearoa New Zealand’s COVID-19 response from December 2021 to September 2022. The sliding scale used 3 levels, called ‘traffic lights’ – green, orange and red.
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund	A funding envelope established in Budget 2020 as a temporary fiscal management tool to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to and recovery from COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy	The Government’s approach to identifying and procuring a suitable COVID-19 vaccine or vaccines.
COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme	Financial assistance provided by the Government to employers to enable them to continue to pay their staff when they were unable to perform their normal duties due to public health measures, such as lockdowns.
Crown Law (Office) \| Te Tari Ture o te Karauna	The New Zealand public service department that provides legal advice and representation services to the government in matters affecting the executive government, particularly in the areas of criminal, public and administrative law.
Delta	A variant of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) that became the dominant form globally in the second half of 2021. Delta was more transmissible (easier to catch) and more virulent (causing more severe disease) than earlier variants.
Department of Corrections \| Ara Poutama Aotearoa	The New Zealand public service department responsible for managing prisons and offenders in the community.
Department of Internal Affairs \| Te Tari Taiwhenua	The New Zealand public service department responsible for issuing passports, administering applications for citizenships and lottery grants, enforcing censorship, anti-money laundering, gambling and digital security laws, registering births, deaths, marriages and civil unions, and supplying support services to ministers. It includes New Zealand Archives and the National Library.
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) \| Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua	A central public service department of New Zealand, responsible for providing support and advice to the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and Ministers with responsibilities relating to national security, risk and resilience, and the regeneration of greater Christchurch.
diagnostic testing	A test used to confirm or rule out the presence of a particular disease (e.g. COVID-19), usually in a person with symptoms.
Director-General of Health	The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health. While this role is not necessarily occupied by a medical doctor or public health specialist, the Director-General of Health during Aotearoa New Zealand’s COVID-19 response had both these qualifications and took on a prominent role in public communication – similar to that of chief medical officers (in the United Kingdom) or chief health officers (in Australia).
Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management	A statutory role under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. The Director has responsibility for providing advice and monitoring the performance of the civil defence emergency management system at a national level and with powers in a national state of emergency or national transition period.
Director of Public Health	A senior government advisor with a statutory advisory role to the Director-General of Health on matters relating to public health. The Director of Public Health may also, following consultation with the Director-General, independently give advice or report on any matter of public health to the Minister. This role is normally occupied by a public health medicine specialist.
district health boards (DHBs)	The 20 regional bodies that were responsible for provision of publicly-funded health and disability services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, including funding and provision of hospital-based services and funding and coordination of primary and community-based healthcare. On 1 July 2022, the district health board system was replaced by a single national agency responsible for funding and coordinating publiclyfunded healthcare – i.e Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora.
elimination strategy	A pandemic response strategy with the goal of eliminating infection from within the population whenever it occurs and preventing new cases of infection from entering.
epidemic	An increase in the incidence of a disease that is higher than expected in the population in question.
epidemiology	The study of the occurrence, distribution and causes of health and disease conditions in populations.
ERO \| Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga	Education Review Office – the public service agency that evaluates the quality of, and facilitates improvement in, education and the care of learners in schools, kura, kōhanga reo and early childhood services.
ESR	Institute of Environmental Science and Research – a Crown Research Institute specialising in science that safeguards the health and wellbeing of New Zealand’s people and natural environment.
essential services	A term used to refer to businesses that were classified as essential to the provision of necessities, and those businesses that supported them, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ethnic minority communities	People of the Middle Eastern, Latin American, African and Asian communities experiencing greater cultural and language barriers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
excess mortality	The difference between the number of deaths observed in a population during a given period and the number that would normally be expected based on recent years’ experience.
exclusion strategy	Where a jurisdiction (usually an island nation) responds to a pandemic by applying very tight restrictions to its borders with the aim of preventing the infectious agent from reaching the population via inward travel. This can be thought of as a form of elimination strategy where border restrictions are applied very early, before any infection has entered the relevant jurisdiction.
financial policy	The actions taken by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, under the Financial Policy Remit issued by the Minister of Finance, to protect and promote the stability of the financial system, in a way that also ensures the efficiency and inclusiveness of the system.
Financial Markets Authority \| Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko	The New Zealand public service agency with responsibility for regulating New Zealand’s financial markets.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand	The national firefighting and emergency services agency of Aotearoa New Zealand.
fiscal policy	One tool a government has to achieve its economic and social objectives. The operation of fiscal policy is governed by the Public Finance Act 1989. It refers to how a government manages its revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities to manage these objectives.
GDP	Gross domestic product – the total monetary or value of all the goods and services produced in a country in a specific time period (e.g. a year), regardless of who made them. A broad measure of the size of a country’s economy.
Governor-General	The representative of the monarch of Aotearoa New Zealand responsible for carrying out the monarch’s constitutional and ceremonial duties.
Hazard Risk Board	The board of central government agency leaders established to oversee and govern management of New Zealand’s national risks and provide advice to the Government.
Health and Disability Commissioner \| Te Toihau Hauora, Hauātanga	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of those using health and disability services in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora	The New Zealand public service agency that is the primary provider of New Zealand’s healthcare system from 1 July 2022.
health order	An Order in Council created under health-related legislation.
health protection officer	A role in New Zealand’s public health service with a focus on communicable disease control and health protection. Health protection officers have statutory powers under the Health Act 1956 to require members of the public to comply with contact tracing, quarantine, isolation or other activities to support the control of infectious diseases (such as COVID-19).
Health Quality and Safety Commission \| Te Tāhū Hauora	Independent Crown entity that monitors the quality, safety and accessibility of New Zealand’s healthcare services and works with healthcare providers and consumers to improve service quality and safety.
home isolation	A term used to refer to people who had either been diagnosed with COVID-19, or were close contacts, isolating (or quarantining) themselves from others in their place of residence.
Human Rights Commission \| Te Kāhui Tika Tangata	The Human Rights Commission works with the Government and civil society to advocate and promote respect for human rights, and to promote harmonious relations in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Commission is made up of the Chief Human Rights Commissioner, and at least three (but no more than four) other Commissioners.
Immigration New Zealand	The operational processing arm of New Zealand’s immigration system. The immigration system regulates the entry and stay of foreign nationals in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Incident Management Team	A team established in an emergency to coordinate and communicate between the respective emergency management functions and organisations involved in managing an incident.
Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response	A panel of international experts established by the World Health Organization to develop recommendations on how to improve capacity for global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. It was co-chaired by the Right Honourable Helen Clark.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity	Initiated in May 2022, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is an economic and trade framework involving 14 countries (including Aotearoa New Zealand).
Inland Revenue \| Te Tari Taake	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for collecting most of the government revenue (most of which comes from tax), and collecting and disbursing payment for social support programmes.
intensive care unit (ICU)	A hospital unit or ward where critically ill patients receive specialised care, usually including mechancial ventilation (machine-supported breathing) and one-on-one nursing care.
*isolation (see also self-isolation and quarantine)*	Separating people who have a contagious disease from people who are not infected, to prevent transmission.
Justice Sector Leadership Board	A cross-agency board of justice sector leaders to increase collaboration on system-wide issues, govern significant cross-agency work programmes and lead agencies with united purpose. The Board consists of leaders from the Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Police, Department of Corrections, Oranga Tamariki, the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Law Office.
Kāinga Ora	Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities; the New Zealand public service agency that provides rental housing for New Zealanders in need.
lead agency	The public service agency with the primary mandate for managing the response to an emergency.
LGBTQIA+ (see also Rainbow community)	An acronym which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual or Ace. The + recognises there are further identities not listed.
lifeline utilities	Entities defined under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 that provide essential infrastructure services to the community, such as water, wastewater, transport, energy and telecommunications.
lockdown	A mandatory stay-at-home order, a legal prohibition placing blanket restrictions on the whole population (apart from specified activities) for the purpose of limiting the spread of a disease. In Aotearoa New Zealand’s COVID-19 response, the term ‘lockdown’ was used for situations where the population was under Alert Level 3 or 4 restrictions (see Alert Level System).
Managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ)	The government-run system of quarantine and isolation facilities used to accommodate incoming travellers undergoing a period of mandatory isolation or quarantine before being able to enter Aotearoa New Zealand, and community cases who could not safely isolate at home.
Māori Council	(In full: New Zealand Māori Council.) A statutory representative body that advocates Māori policy and supports community initiatives that contribute to Māori self-determination.
Māori Health Authority \| Te Aka Whai Ora	An independent Crown entity that was to be the lead commissioner of Māori health services and lead on health policy, strategy and service coordination to ensure the New Zealand health system met the needs of Māori. Te Aka Whai Ora was established in July 2022 and disestablished in the first half of 2024.
Maritime New Zealand \| Nō te rere moana Aotearoa	The New Zealand public service agency that regulates the safety, security and environmental protection of New Zealand’s coastal and inland waterways.
mandatory measures	A range of government-imposed restrictions on people’s actions and activities intended to achieve specified goals in the management of the impact of COVID-19.
Medical Officer of Health	A statutory role in New Zealand’s public health service that is accountable to, and subject to direction from the Director-General of Health in providing oversight of public health regulatory functions. Medical Officers of Health are public health physicians (doctors) who specialise in improving, protecting and promoting the health of the population.
Medsafe	(In full: the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority.) The agency responsible for regulation of medicines and other therapeutic products in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission \| Te Hiringa Mahara	An independent Crown entity that monitors the performance of health and addiction services and advocates for people who experience mental distress, substance harm, gambling harm or addiction.
Middle East respiratory syndrome / MERS	A viral respiratory infection caused by a type of coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Outbreaks of MERS have occurred in several countries – mainly in the Middle East – since 2012, but to date the World Health Organization has not designated MERS a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (a designation that often precedes the declaration of a global pandemic).
minimisation and protection strategy	The official name of the pandemic strategy adopted in Aotearoa New Zealand following the elimination strategy. The ‘minimisation and protection’ strategy was effectively a suppression strategy, at least in the first few months, with some experts describing it as a mitigation strategy thereafter. It lasted from December 2021 to September 2022.
Ministry of Disabled People \| Whaikaha	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for policy advice in relation to disabled people and for providing disability support services.
Ministry for Ethnic Communities \| Te Tari Mātāwaka	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for policy advice on ethnic diversity and inclusion and administering funds to support community development and social cohesion.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development \| Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for policy advice on, and overseeing, housing and urban development.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples \| Te Manatū mō Ngā Iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for policy advice on wellbeing and development of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) \| Manatū Ahu Matua	The New Zealand public service agency that provides policy advice and some regulatory functions across agriculture, biosecurity, food safety, fisheries and forestry.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) \| Hīkina Whakatutuki	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for providing policy advice, services, and regulatory functions across a range of business and enterprise-related sectors to build a strong economy.
Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management	See National Emergency Management Agency, which replaced the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management in 2019.
Ministry of Defence \| Manatū Kaupapa Waonga	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for strategic defence policy advice, acquiring military equipment and building international defence relationships.
Ministry of Education \| Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for education policy. It supports, funds, licenses and regulates schools, kura and early childhood education.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade \| Manatū Aorere	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for foreign and trade policy and promoting New Zealand interests in trade and international relations.
Ministry of Health \| Manatū Hauora	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for the health and disability system. Its functions include health policy, legislation, regulation and monitoring. Prior to July 2022 the Ministry of Health was also responsible for planning and allocating funding for national healthcare services through the 20 district health boards and public health services through the 12 regional public health units.
Ministry of Justice \| Te Tāhū o te Ture	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for the judiciary and for administering the court and legal aid systems, and the Public Defence Service.
Ministry of Social Development \| Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for social policy advice and providing social services.
Ministry of Transport \| Te Manatū Waka	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for transport policy advice.
Ministry of Youth Development \| Te Manatū Whakahiato Taiohi	The New Zealand public service agency that encourages and supports the use of a positive youth development approach to help support young people, aged between 12 and 24 years, to increase their overall wellbeing.
mitigation strategy	A pandemic response strategy with the goal of protecting vulnerable groups from infection while minimising disruption to normal social and economic activities. A mitigation strategy tolerates higher levels of infection and illness than a suppression strategy.
monetary policy	The actions the Reserve Bank of New Zealand takes, primarily by adjusting the Official Cash Rate, to achieve and maintain low inflation (and, at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic), to support maximum sustainable employment.
Monetary Policy Committee	A committee of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand that is responsible for setting and implementing monetary policy in Aotearoa New Zealand to maintain low inflation. It does so primarily by setting the official interest rate – the Official Cash Rate.
mRNA vaccine	A type of vaccine that uses mRNA to evoke an immune response in the person to whom it is administered (see vaccine). While most vaccines contain proteins that imitate the relevant pathogen or infectious agent, these vaccines contain mRNA (or messenger RNA) which the body then uses to build proteins that evoke an immune response.
myocarditis	Inflammation of the heart muscle. Myocarditis can be caused by infection (e.g. a virus) but can also occur as a reaction to a medicine (e.g. a vaccine). It can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood around the body which – if severe – can cause serious illness or death.
My Vaccine Pass	The vaccination certificate issued by the New Zealand Government that enabled easy verification of whether a person had been vaccinated against COVID-19 (or had a medical exemption). Often used to verify eligibility to work in a particular role, to enter specified locations, or to attend specified gatherings.
National Crisis Management Centre	A secure all-of-government facility maintained in a state of readiness for central government to manage the national response to emergencies. It is housed under the Beehive in Wellington.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) \| Te Rākau Whakamarumaru	The New Zealand public service department that leads and coordinates the emergency management system.
National Hauora Coalition	A Māori-led charity and primary health organisation that delivers health and social programmes that improve outcomes for families.
National Health Coordination Centre	A crisis management centre that coordinates the national health and disability sector response to health-related emergencies.
National Health Identifier (NHI)	A unique identifier assigned to each person who receives healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.
National Hospital Response Framework	A framework aimed at supporting DHBs to safely deliver healthcare and maximise patient access to non-COVID-19 services (such as in-patient care, surgeries and specialist appointments), while also protecting healthcare capacity to deal with COVID-19-related demand as it arose.
National Risk Register	A system for identifying nationally significant hazards and risks, such as earthquakes, cyber attacks and pandemics.
NCEA	National Certificate of Education Achievement – the main qualification for secondary school students in Aotearoa New Zealand.
New Zealand Customs Service \| Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for national border control.
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) \| Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa	The three branches of New Zealand’s military – army, navy and air force.
New Zealand Police / Police \| Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa	The national police service and principal law enforcement agency of New Zealand.
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service \| Te Pā Whakamarumaru	New Zealand’s domestic security agency and lead organisation for human intelligence.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise \| Te Taurapa Tūhono	The New Zealand government agency responsible for international business development. Its role is to support exporters to grow a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy.
NGOs	Non-governmental organisations. In this report, NGOs are mainly referred to in their role as deliverers of health and social services and community-based support. This includes voluntary and not-for-profit organisations through to social enterprises and can include for-profit commercial enterprises operating in the social services space.
notifiable disease	A disease or injury for which health professionals are required to report confirmed or suspected cases to the local Medical Officer of Health or the public health service.
Nursing Council \| Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa	Nursing Council of New Zealand – the regulatory authority responsible for the registration of nurses.
Office of the Inspectorate / the Inspectorate \| Te Tari Tirohia	An operationally independent office within the Department of Corrections that inspects prisons, undertakes thematic reviews, investigates complaints from prisoners and offenders and investigates deaths of people in Corrections’ custody.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner \| Te Mana Mātāpono Matatapu	The independent Crown entity that protects and promotes privacy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Official Cash Rate	The interest rate the Reserve Bank of New Zealand charges banks when they borrow money from the Reserve Bank. It is the main policy lever used to keep inflation low and stable. It affects the interest rates that registered banks charge on loans and deposits. This in turn affects the costs and earnings of banks, which influences the interest rates they charge customers.
Officials Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination (ODESC)	A committee of senior officials (normally chief executives) from the New Zealand public service to coordinate an allof-government response to an emergency or crisis. The Committee provides support to ministers in developing the high level strategic direction, policy, and priorities for a response.
Ombudsman \| Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata	A government-appointed role that investigates complaints about government agencies.
Omicron	A variant of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) that was first detected in November 2021 and rapidly became the dominant form globally, including in Aotearoa New Zealand in early 2022. Omicron was highly transmissible (very easy to catch) compared with previous variants but was also less virulent (causing milder infection) than Delta.
Oranga Tamariki	Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children; the New Zealand public service agency responsible for the wellbeing of children and young people, specifically children at risk of harm, youth offenders and children in the care of the state.
order / Order	Refers to an Order in Council.
Order in Council	A type of secondary legislation that is made by the Executive Council (the part of the executive branch of government that carries out formal acts of government, usually comprising all Ministers) presided over by the Governor-General.
pandemic	An infectious disease epidemic occurring across multiple geographical regions, and affecting a large number of people. A pandemic is usually caused by a new infectious agent (for example, a new form of a virus for which people do not have immunity) that transmits readily between people.
pathogen	An infectious organism, such as a virus, bacteria or parasite, that can produce a disease.
PCR test	(In full: Polymerase Chain Reaction test.) A laboratory technique that detects the presence of an organism by copying tiny amounts of genetic material from a sample. PCR tests for the COVID-19 virus were carried out on nasal or throat swabs or saliva, and typically took around 8 hours to process (not counting the time needed for the sample to reach the laboratory or for the results to be checked and reported).
peak body	An advocacy group, sector or trade organisation with allied interests, widely accepted as the legitimate ‘voice’ of the community, sector, profession or industry it represents. Peak bodies are key stakeholders in lobbying, and being consulted by, government on policy or policy implementation.
persistent disadvantage	Disadvantage that is ongoing, whether for two or more years, over a life course or intergenerationally. It has three domains: being left out (excluded or lacking identity, belonging and connection), doing without (deprived or lacking the means to achieve their aspirations), and being income poor (income poverty or lacking prosperity).
Pharmac \| Te Pātaka Whaioranga	(In full: the Pharmaceutical Management Agency.) A New Zealand Crown entity that makes decisions on which medicines and pharmaceutical products receive public funding for use in healthcare. Pharmac purchases and maintains a stock of all funded vaccines (unlike other medicines). Management of COVID-19 vaccines transferred to Pharmac from Ministry of Health on 1 July 2023.
primary health organisation (PHO)	Not-for-profit organisations that provide primary health services (e.g. general practice) within a certain geographical area. PHOs provide health services themselves or through a network of member healthcare providers.
planned care	Medical and surgical care for people who don’t need to be treated right away.
PPE	Personal protective equipment – that is, equipment worn by a person to minimise risks to their health and safety. In the context of an infectious disease, PPE may refer to face masks or visors, protective clothing (e.g. plastic aprons or suits) and/or medical gloves.
primary care	The first point of contact between a person and the health system for most health issues, from prevention to treatment. In Aotearoa New Zealand, primary care is often provided by teams of general practitioners (that is, medical doctors specialising in providing community-based care), practice nurses, paramedics and other health professionals.
public health	The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organised efforts of society.
*public health and social measures (see also mandatory measures)*	A range of controls on people’s actions and activities, imposed by the Government with the intention of reducing the risk of transmission of an infectious disease.
public health emergency	An official declaration that a disease or disorder poses a serious threat to public health.
public health unit (PHU)	Public health service teams that provide communicable disease control, environmental health and health prevention services to the population in each of the 12 regions throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Since 2022, PHUs are organised into four Regional Public Health Servies within a National Public Health Service.
Public Service Commission \| Te Kawa Mataaho	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for overseeing, managing and improving the performance of the public service.
Public Service Commissioner	Appointed by the Governor-General, the Public Service Commissioner provides leadership to the public service.
Public Service Leadership Team	A team of Chief Executives from all government departments, and, at the Public Service Commissioner’s discretion, the Commissioner of Police, the Chief of the Defence Force, and Chief Executives of Crown agents and departmental agencies. The team provides strategic leadership to achieve crossagency effectiveness and a cohesive public service.
*quarantine (see also isolation and self-isolation)*	Separating people who may have been exposed to a contagious disease from others until it is confirmed that they are not infected. Quarantine – either at a border or as part of contact tracing – is an essential and long-standing tool in public health to slow, or even stop, the spread of communicable diseases.
(the) Quin	A leadership group set up in response to COVID-19 that was in place between March and June 2020. Members were the All-of-Government Controller and four key response leaders – Director-General of Health, Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, head of Strategic Operations Command Centre and the All-of-Government Strategy and Policy Lead. The group’s role was to oversee and provide direction to cross-agency activities.
Rainbow community (see also LGBTQIA+)	An umbrella term that covers all sexual and gender minorities, and people with variations of sex characteristics and avoids the acronym LGBTQIA+. This can be used to identify communities as well as an individual.
rapid antigen testing / RAT tests	A technique used to detect COVID-19 infections by analysis of a nasal swab or saliva sample in a chemical solution. Tests could be self-administered and results were available in 10-20 minutes.
Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme	A government initiative enabling horticulture and viticulture industries to bring workers (Recognised Seasonal Employees) into New Zealand from overseas.
Regional Leadership Group	Each of New Zealand’s 16 local government regions has a cross-agency and cross-organisation leadership group that works to support regional social and economic outcomes. Groups consist of regional leads from the Ministry for Social Development and a range of public sector agencies, and regional local government and iwi representative leaders.
Regional Public Service Commissioner	A statutory role appointed to a region, that strengthens regional system leadership by coordinating and aligning central government decision-makers and regional wellbeing outcomes.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand \| Te Pūtea Matua	Aotearoa New Zealand’s central bank, responsible for maintaining a sound and efficient monetary and financial system by giving people, communities and businesses the confidence to spend, borrow and save money.
Reserve Bank Governor	A role with statutory responsibilities for all New Zealand monetary policy decisions.
saliva test	A technique used to detect COVID-19 infections by analysis of a saliva sample.
SARS-CoV-2	The strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
*self-isolation (see also isolation and quarantine)*	Staying at home, isolated from other people, because of a suspected or confirmed infection to prevent transmission.
*sequencing framework (see also vaccine rollout)*	The prioritisation framework used to determine the order in which groups of people would become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Aotearoa New Zealand.
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)	A viral respiratory disease caused by a type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1). In 2003, SARS caused a regional epidemic in East Asia and had the potential to become a global pandemic, but infection was contained by a rapid and coordinated response.
Serious Fraud Office \| Te Tari Hara Tāware	The New Zealand public service agency with responsibility for preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting financial crimes.
social distancing	A public health measure to prevent the spread of an infectious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people.
social cohesion	Generally refers to the tendency for a group of people to be in unity while working towards a goal; the degree to which bonds link members of a social group together. Important in the context of a pandemic for the overall success of the response.
social licence	The amount of acceptance or approval the general public has in government or a private organisation’s activities. In the specific context of a pandemic, refers particularly to the degree of public acceptance of public health and other measures deployed in the response.
social sector	Government agencies and a diverse collection of non-governmental organisations delivering and funding social services and supports across the country with a goal of improving wellbeing and equity of outcomes for New Zealanders. This includes income and welfare support, health, housing, justice, education and community services.
state of national emergency	A declaration by a Minister, under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, where an emergency is of such a magnitude that it is likely to be beyond the resources of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups in the affected areas. It provides for the civil defence system roles at national, regional and local levels to be activated and emergency powers to respond to a national emergency.
State Services Commission	The precursor organisation to the Public Service Commission.
State Services Commissioner	A statutory officer responsible for appointing top officials, issuing a code of conduct and investigating poor performance in the New Zealand public service.
Statistics NZ \| Tatauranga Aotearoa	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for the collection of statistics related to the economy, population and society of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Strategic COVID-19 Public Health Advisory Group (SPHAG)	A group of experts appointed by the Associate Minister of Health (Public Health) in 2021 to provide independent advice on COVID-19 vaccination, public health protections and border settings.
super-spreader (event)	A large gathering of people resulting in transmission of infection among attendees and subsequently multiple chains of transmission into the wider community.
suppression strategy	A pandemic response strategy with the goal of suppressing rates of transmission within the population in order to prevent the health system from becoming overwhelmed.
telehealth	Delivery of healthcare services remotely using information and communication technologies (e.g. telephone).
Te Puni Kōkiri	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for policy advice on Māori wellbeing and development.
Tertiary Education Commission \| Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua	A New Zealand Crown agency that leads the Government’s relationship with the education sector, invests Government funding in tertiary education organisations and provides career services from education to employment.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi	The treaty signed in 1840 by iwi, hapū and representatives of the British Crown. Often referred to as Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document.
The Treasury \| Te Tai Ōhanga	The New Zealand public service agency responsible for providing economic and financial advice to the Government.
traffic light system	See COVID-19 Protection Framework.
transmission	The passing of an infectious disease from an infected individual to another individual or group.
transmission chain	The transmission of infection from one person to others via a sequence of connections. A transmission chain can consist of multiple links, all starting from the one original source.
Unite Against COVID-19 Campaign	The public information campaign which supported the Government’s communication efforts by providing New Zealanders with a trusted source of information about COVID-19, the Government’s response and responsibilities of individuals, businesses and organisations.
vaccination	The administration of a vaccine as a means of protection against a disease.
vaccination hub	A location for administering vaccinations to a large number of people.
vaccination rates	Strictly speaking, vaccination rates refer to the number of vaccine doses delivered in a specific time-frame (e.g. per day). However this term is more often used to describe the proportion of a particular population (by age, geography, ethnicity or some other category) who have received the relevant vaccine (i.e. vaccine coverage).
vaccine	A type of medicine designed to evoke an immune response in the person to whom it is administered. Vaccines train the body’s immune system to recognise a pathogen and to defend the body from it at the next encounter.
vaccine certificate	See vaccine pass.
vaccine coverage	The proportion of a particular population (by age, geography, ethnicity or some other category) who have received the relevant vaccine. Vaccine coverage may refer to receipt of a single dose or of a course of vaccination (e.g. the two initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine).
vaccine hesitancy	When people delay or decline getting vaccinated (for themselves or for their children) because they lack confidence, motivation, ease of access or trust in those providing the vaccine.
vaccine pass	An official certificate verifying that someone has received a vaccine (or is exempt). See also My Vaccine Pass.
*vaccine rollout (see also sequencing framework)*	Implementation of New Zealand’s COVID-19 vaccination programme in which the first two doses of the vaccine were administered to the entire eligible population (aged 12 and over).
vector (of transmission / of infection)	Living organisms (including people) that can transmit infectious pathogens between humans or from animals to humans, i.e. carriers of infectious pathogens.
ventilation	Building ventilation refers to the process of introducing fresh air into indoor spaces while removing stale air. Ventilation lowers the concentration of any infectious particles or droplets (aerosols) that may have been introduced by the presence of a person with a respiratory infection. Ventilation of a person refers to the use of mechanical support to help them breath (see ventilator). Ventilation may be needed for people who become seriously unwell from a respiratory infection such as COVID-19.
ventilator	A life-support machine used to mechanically support a person’s breathing by pushing air into their lungs.
virologist	A person who specialises in the study of viruses.
virulence	The relative capacity of a pathogen (such as a virus) to cause severe disease. Virulence may be quantified using indicators such as infection fatality rate, case fatality rate, or hospitalisation rate.
virus	A tiny infectious agent that reproduces itself within the cells of the infected person, animal or ‘host’.
wage subsidy scheme	See COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Support Scheme.
Waitangi Tribunal	The permanent commission of inquiry that considers claims of contemporary and historical breaches of te Tiriti o Waitangi \| the Treaty of Waitangi.
Whānau Ora	A programme of family-centric care in Aotearoa New Zealand, driven by Māori cultural values and delivered by specialist Whānau Ora providers, to empower Māori communities and families to achieve better outcomes for families (and extended families) in areas such as health, education, housing, employment, improved standards of living and cultural identity. It is funded by the Government, managed through the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency and delivered through community-based NGO partners.
welfare response	The welfare services delivered to individuals, families and communities affected by an emergency.
WHO	See World Health Organization.
WorkSafe New Zealand (Worksafe) \| Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa	New Zealand’s primary work health and safety regulator.
World Health Organization (WHO)	The United Nations agency that leads multilateral efforts to promote and protect health, including via coordination of global preparation and response to pandemics.

Glossary of te reo Māori terms
hapori	Part of a kinship group, family or community.
hapū	A section of a large kinship group and primary political unit in traditional Māori society (subtribe).
hauora	Health.
iwi	A large group of people (or tribe) descended from a common ancestor and associated with a distinct territory.
kai	Food or a meal.
kaumātua	An adult or elder who is a person of status within the whānau.
kawa	Protocol or etiquette, particularly in a Māori meeting place.
kūmara	Sweet potato.
kura	School.
mahi tahi	Working together, collaboration, cooperation, or teamwork.
manaakitanga	The act of showing kindness, respect, generosity, care for others and reciprocity.
mana motuhake	Enabling the right for Māori to be Māori (Māori selfdetermination); to exercise their authority over their lives, and to live on Māori terms and according to Māori philosophies, values and practices.
mana whenua	The power associated with possession and occupation of tribal land.
marae	The open area in front of the wharenui where formal greetings and discussions take place. It is also often used to include the complex and building around the marae. The marae is the hub of a Māori community, the place where people gather in times of joy and celebration, and times of stress and sadness. (A wharenui is a meeting house; the main building of a marae where guests are accommodated.)
Ōtautahi	Christchurch.
Pākehā	A New Zealander of European descent.
papakāinga	The original home, village, or communal Māori land.
putea	A fund or sum of money.
rāhui	Temporary prohibition, closed season, ban or reserve.
rangatahi	Young people.
rohe	Area of land e.g. district, region, territory.
Tairāwhiti	The East Coast (of the North Island).
takatāpui	Māori who identify as LGBTQIA+. A traditional word meaning ‘intimate friend of the same sex’. It includes all Māori who identify with diverse sexualities, gender expressions, and/or variations of sex characteristics.
Tāmaki Makaurau	Auckland.
tamariki	Children and young people.
tangata whenua	A term that refers to the ‘people of the land’. It can refer to either a specific group of people with historical claims to a district, or more broadly the Māori people as a whole.
tangihanga	The grieving and burial rites for the dead – one of the most important institutions in Māori society, with strong cultural imperatives and protocols.
Te Tai Tokerau	Northland.
Te Ao Māori	The Māori world.
te tino rangatiratanga	See tino rangatiratanga.
tikanga	The customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context.
tino rangatiratanga	Sovereignty and self-determination.
tupāpaku	A deceased person’s body.
whānau	The immediate and extended family group.
whanaungatanga	A relationship through shared experiences which provides people with a sense of belonging. It grows from kinship rights and obligations, which also serve to strengthen each member of the kin group. It also extends to others to whom one develops a close familial, friendship or reciprocal relationship.