Public hearings session one: Perspectives on the pandemic
Learn more about the first public hearing
The Inquiry will hear 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 will be available here from Monday 7 July 2025. Please note a recording of each session will be made available after the hearings:
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.
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Hearings welcome and opening (10am) |
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Welcome from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Opening remarks from Inquiry Chair Grant Illingworth KC Opening remarks from counsel assisting Nicolette Levy KC |
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Lockdowns opening (11am) |
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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 |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland business sector (12pm) |
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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 |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Te Tai Tokerau Northland business sector (2pm) |
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NorthChamber |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Waikato and Caterbury business sector (3pm) |
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New Zealand National Fieldays Society 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.
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Day two opening (10am) |
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Opening from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei |
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Lockdowns: Research perspectives on social impacts (10:05am) |
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Care and Responsibility Under Lockdown (research collective) |
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Lockdowns: video testimonies (11am) |
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Video recordings of experiences of members of the public during the lockdowns, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from the disabled community, carers and whānau (11:30am) |
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Community representatives Kaikaranga Disability Connect Te Roopu Waiora |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from the general practice sector (1:45pm) |
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Te Whare Tohu Rata o Aotearoa - Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network General Practice Owners Association General Practice NZ |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from support organisations for older people (2:45pm) |
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Grey Power New Zealand Federation Inc Age Concern |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from the Pasifika health and social services sector (3:45pm) |
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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.
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Day three opening (9:30am) |
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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 |
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Lockdowns: Experiences of Tāmaki Makarau Auckland communities (10:15am) |
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CNSST Foundation Falelalaga Village Limited Congregational Christian Church of Samoa |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Auckland Council (11:30am) |
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Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland Council |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Māori health and social services organisations (1:15pm) |
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Te Whānau o Waipareira Tamaki ki Te Tonga District Māori Council |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from the education sector (2:30pm) |
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Ngā Tumuaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Principals’ Federation Kaitaia College |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from young people (3:30pm) |
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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.
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Day four opening (10am) |
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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 |
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Vaccine safety: Concerns about vaccine safety from advocacy groups (10:30am) |
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The Health Forum New Zealand Voices for Freedom |
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Video testimonies (1pm) |
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Video testimonies – video recordings of experiences of members of the public on vaccine safety, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
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Vaccine safety Concerns about vaccine safety from advocacy groups continued (1:15pm) |
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New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science |
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Vaccine safety: Misinformation and disinformation (2:30pm) |
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Fighting Against Conspiracy Theories (FACT) Aotearoa |
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Vaccine safety: Vaccine science (3:45pm) |
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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.
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Day five opening (10am) |
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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 |
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Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from mandated industries (10:30am) |
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Port Companies CEO Group Hato Hone - St John Autism New Zealand |
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Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from the nursing and midwifery sectors (12pm) |
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Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Nurses Organisation Te Kāreti o ngā Kaiwhakawhānau ki Aotearoa - New Zealand College of Midwives |
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Video testimonies (2pm) |
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Video recordings of experiences of members of the public regarding vaccine mandates, selected from the public submissions received by the Inquiry |
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Vaccine mandates: Research perspectives on mandates (2:20pm) |
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Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau - Auckland University of Technology Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha - University of Canterbury |
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Vaccine safety: Perspectives on communication regarding the vaccine (3:45pm) |
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Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland |
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Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from mandated industries (4:30pm) |
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Hospitality New Zealand |