Public hearings session one: Perspectives on the pandemic
Learn more about the first public hearing
The Inquiry heard from a range of organisations and individuals who experienced the pandemic and the Government’s response to it between Monday 7 July 2025 and Friday 11 July 2025.
The hearings livestream was available here from Monday 7 July 2025. Please note a recording of each session will be made available shortly:
Hearings programme - week one
Day one: Lockdowns (Monday 7 July)
In attendance from the Inquiry: Chair Grant Illingworth KC, Commissioner Anthony Hill, Commissioner Judy Kavanagh, counsel assisting Nicolette Levy KC and Danielle Kelly.
|
Hearings welcome and opening (10am) |
|
Welcome from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Opening remarks from Inquiry Chair Grant Illingworth KC Opening remarks from counsel assisting Nicolette Levy KC |
|
Lockdowns opening (11am) |
|
Video testimonies – video recordings of experiences of members of the public during the lockdowns, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry Introduction to lockdowns |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland business sector (12pm) |
|
Viv Beck, Chief Executive, Heart of the City Paul Jarvie, Employee Relations and Safety Manager, Employers and Manufacturers Association Heta Hudson, Chair, Whāriki Business Network |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from Te Tai Tokerau Northland business sector (2pm) |
|
Leah McKerrow, CEO, NorthChamber |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from Waikato and Canterbury business sector (3pm) |
|
Taryn Storey, Head of Customer & Strategic Engagement, New Zealand National Fieldays Society Mark Willis, Director, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve |
Day two: Lockdowns (Tuesday 8 July)
In attendance from the Inquiry: Chair Grant Illingworth KC, Commissioner Anthony Hill, Commissioner Judy Kavanagh, counsel assisting Nicolette Levy KC and Danielle Kelly.
|
Day two opening (10am) |
|
Opening from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei |
|
Lockdowns: Research perspectives on social impacts (10:05am) |
|
Dr Nick Long, Dr Eleanor Holroyd, and Dr Antje Deckert - Care and Responsibility Under Lockdown (research collective) |
|
Lockdowns: video testimonies (11am) |
|
Video recordings of experiences of members of the public during the lockdowns, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from the disabled community, carers and whānau (11:30am) |
|
Barry de Geest, Co-Chair, Auckland Council Disability Advisory Group Sonia Hawea, Chief Executive, Kaikaranga Cherie Cawdron, Operations Manager and Executive Assistant, Disability Connect & Board Chair, Complex Care Group Tania Kingi MNZM (Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāi Tai), Chief Executive, Te Roopu Waiora |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from the general practice sector (1:45pm) |
|
Dr Fiona Bolden, Chair, Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network Dr Angus Chambers, Chair, General Practice Owners Association Dr Bryan Betty, Chair, General Practice NZ |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from support organisations for older people (2:45pm) |
|
Gayle Chambers, National President, Grey Power New Zealand Federation Inc Karen Billings-Jensen, Chief Executive, He Manaakitanga Kaumātua Aotearoa – Age Concern New Zealand |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from the Pasifika health and social services sector (3:45pm) |
|
Debbie Sorensen ONZM, Chief Executive, Pasifika Futures |
Day three: Lockdowns (Wednesday 9 July)
In attendance from the Inquiry: Chair Grant Illingworth KC, Commissioner Anthony Hill, Commissioner Judy Kavanagh, counsel assisting Nicolette Levy KC and Danielle Kelly.
|
Day three opening (9:30am) |
|
Opening from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Video testimonies – video recordings of experiences of members of the public during the lockdowns, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
|
Lockdowns: Experiences of Tāmaki Makarau Auckland communities (10:15am) |
| Rachel Huang, Senior Manager - Social Enterprise, CNSST Foundation Saoatulagioletagaloa Penina Tu’unai Ifopo, Founder and Managing Director, Falelalaga Village Limited Reverend Victor Pouesi, Minister, Congregational Christian Church of Samoa |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from Auckland Council (11:30am) |
|
Phil Wilson, Chief Executive, Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland Council Taryn Crewe, General Manager - Parks & Community Facilities, Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland Council |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from Māori health and social services organisations (1:15pm) |
|
Hector Kawai (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tūhoe), Director - Wai Rangahau, Te Whānau o Waipareira Raewyn Bhana QSM, Deputy Director, Tamaki ki Te Tonga District Māori Council |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from the education sector (2:30pm) |
|
Leanne Otene, National President, Ngā Tumuaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Principals’ Federation Alexandra Kingi, Deputy Principal, Kaitaia College |
|
Lockdowns: Perspectives from young people (3:30pm) |
|
Kritika Selach, Grayson Sutherland, and Jodie Rameka - Young people from Te Tai Tokerau Northland and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland |
Day four: Vaccine safety (Thursday 10 July)
In attendance from the Inquiry: Chair Grant Illingworth KC, Commissioner Anthony Hill, Commissioner Judy Kavanagh, counsel assisting Nicolette Levy KC and Danielle Kelly.
|
Day four opening (10am) |
|
Opening from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Introduction to vaccine safety Video testimonies – video recordings of experiences of members of the public on vaccine safety, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
|
Vaccine safety: Concerns about vaccine safety from advocacy groups (10:30am) |
|
Lynda Wharton, Founder, The Health Forum New Zealand Alia Bland and Claire Deeks, Co-founders, Voices for Freedom Katie Ashby-Koppens, Legal Manager, Voices for Freedom |
|
Video testimonies (1pm) |
|
Video testimonies – video recordings of experiences of members of the public on vaccine safety, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
|
Vaccine safety Concerns about vaccine safety from advocacy groups continued (1:15pm) |
|
Matt Shelton and Dr Alison Goodwin, Co-founders, New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science |
|
Vaccine safety: Misinformation and disinformation (2:30pm) |
|
Jacinta O'Reilly, Fighting Against Conspiracy Theories (FACT) Aotearoa |
|
Vaccine safety: Vaccine science (3:45pm) |
|
Professor Graham Le Gros, Former Director, Ohu Kaupare Huaketo - Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand |
Day five: Vaccine safety and mandates (Friday 11 July)
In attendance from the Inquiry: Chair Grant Illingworth KC, Commissioner Anthony Hill, Commissioner Judy Kavanagh, counsel assisting Nicolette Levy KC and Danielle Kelly.
|
Day five opening (10am) |
|
Opening from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Video testimonies – video recordings of experiences of members of the public regarding vaccine mandates, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
|
Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from mandated industries (10:30am) |
|
Charles Finny, Independent Chair, Port Companies CEO Group Johnny Mulheron, General Manager - Ambulance Operations, Hato Hone - St John Lee Patrick, Research & Advocacy Advisor, Autism New Zealand |
|
Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from the nursing and midwifery sectors (12pm) |
|
Anne Daniels, President, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Nurses Organisation Kerri Nuku (Ngāti Kahungunu and Tainui), Kaiwhakahaere, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Nurses Organisation Lisa Gilbert, Chair of the Infection Prevention and Control Nurses College, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Nurses Organisation Alison Eddy, Chief Executive, Te Kāreti o ngā Kaiwhakawhānau ki Aotearoa - New Zealand College of Midwives Claire MacDonald, Midwifery Advisor - Research, Public Health and Equity, Te Kāreti o ngā Kaiwhakawhānau ki Aotearoa - New Zealand College of Midwives |
|
Video testimonies (2pm) |
|
Video recordings of experiences of members of the public regarding vaccine mandates, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
|
Vaccine mandates: Research perspectives on mandates (2:20pm) |
|
Professor Denise Wilson, Associate Dean Māori Advancement, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau - Auckland University of Technology Professor Michael Plank, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha - University of Canterbury |
|
Vaccine safety: Perspectives on communication regarding the vaccine (3:45pm) |
|
Associate Professor Helen Petoussis-Harris, Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland |
|
Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from mandated industries (4:30pm) |
|
Darelle Jenkins, Head of Membership, Hospitality New Zealand |