Acknowledgments | 
He mihi
 

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the work of Te Tira Ārai Urutā – the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned by sharing their experiences of the pandemic, and the Government’s response to the pandemic, with us.

We deeply appreciate the time and effort members of the public, organisations, and community groups have put into sharing their thoughts, either through a written submission or by taking the time to meet with the Inquiry. The information we have received is an integral part of the work of the Inquiry, and we are grateful to everyone who shared their experiences with us.

We know it is not easy to share memories of a time that was difficult for many of us, especially when those experiences are still affecting people’s lives today. However, it is important that we hear from those who feel most affected by the pandemic still, and that we consider those views as part of our work to build a complete picture of the pandemic.

Please note that many of these stories are not easy to read and illustrate just some of the ways in which the pandemic significantly changed people’s lives. Should you need to talk with someone after reading this report, a list of numbers for support groups and organisations is available inside this report’s back cover.
 

Disclaimer: The views and experiences reflected in this report are those of the people who shared their pandemic experiences with the Inquiry either through public submissions or through a direct engagement. These are not the views or recommendations of the Inquiry, and the material in these responses may not be accurate or complete. The Inquiry’s conclusions about what happened, and its recommendations can be found in the main report.

E tuku mihi nui ana mātou ki te hunga katoa i whai wāhi ki te mahi a Te Tira Ārai Urutā – Te Tātaritanga Kōmihana Korona i ngā Akoranga i puta i te mate urutā COVID-19 – mā te tuku i ā rātou wheako i te wā o te mate urutā, me te urupare a te Kāwanatanga ki taua mate urutā.

E tino whakamiha ana mātou i te kaha me te manawanui o te iwi whānui, ngā tōpūtanga, me ngā rōpū hapori i tuku whakaaro, mā te tuhi i ngā tāpaetanga, mā te hui kanohi ki te kanohi rānei me te Kōmihana. He wāhanga nui rawa atu ēnei kōrero ki te mahi a te Kōmihana, ā, e mihi ana mātou ki te hunga i whakapuaki i ā rātou wheako.

E mōhio ana mātou he uaua te whakapuaki i ngā maharatanga o tētahi wā taumaha, inā rā, e pā tonu ana aua wheako ki te oranga o te tangata i ēnei rā. Heoi anō, he mea nui kia rangona ngā reo o te hunga e pā kino tonu ana i nāianei, kia whai wāhi aua tirohanga ki te hanga i tētahi whakaahua whānui o te mate urutā.

Me mōhio, he uaua te pānui i ētahi o ēnei kōrero, ā, e whakaatu ana i ngā huarahi maha i rerekē ai te oranga o te tangata nā te mate urutā. Mēnā ka hiahia kōrero āwhina koe i muri i te pānui i tēnei pūrongo, kei te tauākī o muri o te pūrongo he rārangi nama mō ngā rōpū tautoko.
 

Whakakāhoretanga: Ko ngā tirohanga me ngā wheako e whakaatuhia ana i tēnei pūrongo nō te hunga i tuku kōrero ki te Kōmihana, mā ngā tāpaetanga tūmatanui, mā ngā hui rānei. Ehara ēnei i te tirohanga, i te tūtohutanga rānei a te Kōmihana, ā, kāore pea i te tika, i te oti katoa ngā kōrero i roto i ēnei urupare. Kei te pūrongo matua ngā whakatau a te Kōmihana me ōna tūtohutanga.