Questions and Answers Ngā Pātai me ngā Whakautu

How do I make a submission? 

Go to covid19inquiry.nz to make a submission to the Inquiry. 

You can either type your submission into the text box provided in the submission form, or you can upload a Word document or PDF. Even if you are using the text box, we recommend saving a copy of your submission on your computer first so you have a back-up copy available.  

If you are an NZSL user, you will also be able to submit a video of yourself using NZSL to make a submission. 

Information is available in English, and will be available in te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, NZSL, Easy Read, Braille, Audio, and Large Print.  

If you would like to be notified when other languages and alternate formats are available, please enter your email address here. 

Why are you asking for additional submissions? 

Members of the public had the opportunity to make a submission to the Inquiry in 2024 during Phase One. Phase Two of the Inquiry has now been directed to assess some additional aspects of the COVID-19 response, as well as look at some previously assessed topics further. We want to give everyone the chance to contribute to the Inquiry on all topics we are assessing.  

Can I speak to my submission? 

The Inquiry currently intends to hold public hearings later in 2025. We will make information available soon on the format of these hearings, including any opportunities for members of the public and others to participate.  

Why can I only make a submission on certain topics? 

The role of Phase Two of the Inquiry is to review key decisions made by the New Zealand Government in the following areas: 

• Vaccines, including mandates, approvals, and safety. 

• Lockdowns, especially the lockdowns of 2021 and 2022. 

• Testing and tracing technologies (like RATs or the COVID-19 Tracer app), and public health materials (like masks).  

Phase Two can only make recommendations on these topic areas, which means we are unable to consider submissions on other topics.   

Other topics related to the COVID-19 response were covered by Phase One of the Inquiry.   

Can I withdraw my submission? 

You can withdraw your submission by emailing the Inquiry on InquiryintoCOVID-19lessons@dia.govt.nz. However, you must email us before the end of the submissions period on 27 April 2025.  

Can I submit more than once? 

No. Please only make one submission to the Inquiry. If you need to add anything to your submission, please email us on InquiryintoCOVID-19lessons@dia.govt.nz. 

Will you read all submissions? 

Every submission will be read and analysed by the Inquiry. All submissions will be read by a human – we do not use AI.  

Will my submission be confidential? 

Any personal information provided to the Inquiry, such as your name and contact details, will be kept confidential permanently. 

Your submission will also be kept confidential for the duration of the Inquiry. That means that only the Inquiry will be able to read your submission until after the Inquiry’s report is complete. You can also request permanent confidentiality by ticking the box in this survey.  

Permanent confidentiality means that no one can read your submission except you and the Inquiry (including parties we have engaged to work with us). You may wish to request permanent confidentiality if your submission contains information you would not like anyone else to know, like personal medical information or commercial details about your business. Permanent confidentiality means that no one can share your submission anywhere publicly, including you.  

The Inquiry may use information or direct quotes from your submission in our final report or other communications and products we produce. We will remove any identifying information, like names or specific details, before we use any part of your submission. 

After the Inquiry ends, all submissions will be sent to Archives New Zealand. Submissions that have been granted permanent confidentiality will not be available for the public to access. However, those where confidentiality was not requested can be made available from Archives New Zealand if requested, for example, by a researcher or someone else with an interest in the work of the Inquiry. 

Why is there a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic response?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, significant, complex, and far-reaching impacts on people, whānau and communities. It is important for Aotearoa New Zealand to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic response in order to prepare for future pandemics.

A Royal Commission of Inquiry is the highest form of public inquiry for the most serious issues of public importance, so it is the most appropriate type of inquiry for this purpose.

What will the Royal Commission do?

The purpose of the Royal Commission is to strengthen Aotearoa New Zealand’s preparedness for future pandemics. The Royal Commission will do this by assessing the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and providing recommendations on how Aotearoa New Zealand can prepare for and manage future pandemics. As part of this work, Phase Two will assess key decisions made by the Government in regards to the use of vaccines, the use of lockdowns, and testing and tracing technologies and non-pharmaceutical public health materials during 2021 and 2022. The Inquiry will assess the process of making these decisions and the impact they had.

Why are there two phases to the Royal Commission?

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned was first announced on 5 December 2022. The purpose of the Royal Commission was to investigate Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 in order to prepare for future pandemics.

After the 2023 election, the coalition Government indicated that it intended to expand the terms of reference for the Royal Commission. The terms of reference set out details about how the Royal Commission will operate, like what topics it should investigate.

The Minister of Internal Affairs announced on 25 June 2024 that the Royal Commission would be conducted in two phases. Phase One would cover the original terms of reference of the Royal Commission and would produce a report and conclude on 28 November 2024.

Phase Two of the Inquiry will consider matters of public concern not clearly addressed in the first phase, like vaccine safety. It will also build on the work of Phase One; specifically, by looking at certain issues in more depth, like lockdowns and mandates. 

What is included in Phase Two of the Inquiry? What is not included?

You can read the full terms of reference for both Phase Two and Phase One here.

Will the Royal Commission identify ways to ensure New Zealand has a strong pandemic response in the future?

Yes. Phase One of the Royal Commission commented on the effectiveness of New Zealand’s initial elimination strategy, and later minimisation and protection strategy. Considerations included how effective these strategies were in limiting the spread of the virus and its impact on vulnerable groups and the health system. Phase One looked into this in the context of New Zealand’s circumstances, what was known at the time, and the strategies adopted by other countries.

Phase Two will assess key decisions made by the Government in regards to the use of vaccines, the implementation of lockdowns, and testing and tracing technologies and non-pharmaceutical public health materials during 2021 and 2022. The Inquiry will assess the process of making these decisions and the impact they had.

Will the Royal Commission consider the recent health reforms in its work and recommendations?

No. The recent reforms to New Zealand’s health system, including the organisational arrangements for public health services are excluded from the Royal Commission’s scope. Phase One did, however, identify lessons that can be learned about people’s expectations of health services and how they need to be maintained during a pandemic.

Will individual cases or particular clinical decisions be assessed by the Royal Commission?

No. The Royal Commission’s scope does not include reviewing clinical decisions and the application of COVID-19 response measures to individual cases. This is because other organisations are responsible for making judgements in these areas, for example the Health and Disability Commissioner. The role of the Royal Commission is to assess Aotearoa New Zealand’s COVID-19 response as a whole and to make recommendations to ensure that we learn the lessons from the COVID-19 response.

What other areas are out of scope for the Inquiry?

The New Zealand Government sets out the topics in scope for the Inquiry’s investigation in its terms of reference. The Inquiry is only able to make findings and recommendations on these topics.

Areas out of scope for the Inquiry include things like Long Covid, and Parliamentary processes during the COVID-19 response period. For a complete list of topics not included in the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, click here.

Will the response of the private sector be part of the Inquiry?

The operation of individual private sector businesses is excluded from the Royal Commission’s scope, except where the private sector was responsible for delivering services integral to a pandemic response.

Phase Two will consider the impact of private sector involvement (or non-involvement) in the procurement, development, and distribution of testing and tracing technologies and non-pharmaceutical public health materials from February 2021 to October 2022.

How will the work of the inquiry benefit New Zealanders?

There will likely be pandemics in the future, and it’s imperative Aotearoa is well prepared to respond in an effective and timely fashion.

Learning from our COVID-19 experience will ensure New Zealand has appropriate and effective policies and practices in place for the future that will benefit all of us.

When will the report be completed?

The Phase One report of the Royal Commission was released on 28 November 2024. The Phase Two report will be completed by 26 February 2026.

Will there be public hearings?

The use of public hearings by the Inquiry is still being considered.

If public hearings are held, they will likely take place in or around mid-2025.

Phase One did not hold public hearings.

If you have any questions for the Royal Commission, please email us on InquiryintoCOVID-19lessons@dia.govt.nz.

Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.

Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).

Healthline – 0800 611 116