New Zealand Expands Scope of Inquiry Into Government’s Handling of COVID-19

Protesters against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions gather near parliament grounds in Wellington, New Zealand on March 2, 2022. Dave Lintott/AFP via Getty Images

New Zealanders will get to have their views on the previous Labour government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic after the scope of the inquiry was expanded.

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden announced the change on the back of a tri-party coalition agreement at the 2023 election. 

According to statistics from health agency, Te Whatu Ora, accurate at the time of writing, 3,768 people died from COVID-19, or had it listed as a contributing factor of death.

An inquiry is currently being undertaken by a Royal Commission investigation, announced by the former government on Dec. 8, 2022.

It began considering evidence in February 2023, and was supposed to consider lessons to be learned from New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 and how to improve in future.

On the agenda is a consideration of the use of multiple lockdowns, vaccine procurement and efficacy, the cost-effectiveness of the government’s policies, and determining to what extent, New Zealanders’ health, education, and business were disrupted.

Also under the microscope is the government’s response being consistent with the rule of law, and whether the decisions made and steps taken, were justified.

As part of the coalition agreement, NZ First, led by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, stipulated an independent inquiry that promised to compensate people who suffered vaccine injuries or lost their jobs due to mandates imposed during the pandemic’s peak.

The Royal Commission is led by two commissioners, including Epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely and Economist John Whitehead—supported by a secretariat.

Speaking with Radio New Zealand in November, Professor Alexander Gillespie from Waikato University’s School of Law said he backed widening the inquiry’s scope as opposed to creating a separate body which could harm the processes’ integrity.

“You don’t want to get into this position in which you start undercutting Royal Commissions either. You need to treat them with the respect they deserve, the integrity of their processes, and the work that they undertake.

“But if you’re going to start putting another inquiry effectively on top of the Royal Commission, that’s not a good look,” said Professor Gillespie.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in November, that the new government would aim to “broaden the terms of the COVID inquiry so it considers more things, and broaden the terms of reference.”

Ms. Van Velden said on Feb. 4, that voices from everyday New Zealanders were now welcome:

“As committed to in both the ACT-National and NZ First-National coalition agreements, the public will be given the opportunity to have their say on a broadened terms of reference that addresses the handling of the response and many complex impacts of the COVID-19 response,” she said.

“The current terms of reference were decided by the same government responsible for the COVID-19 response, and they place significant limits on what the inquiry can consider. New Zealanders deserve a frank assessment of what occurred and how we can learn from it.”

The public can contribute from this month, and the Royal Commission will soon announce the mechanisms for people to have their say.

Ms. Van Velden said, “This government is ensuring all New Zealanders’ concerns are heard.

“This is a forward-thinking piece of work. It is not simply about learning what went wrong, but working out what we need to do right in the future."