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:

COVID-19 Inquiry Public hearings livestream

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)

NorthChamber

Lockdowns: Perspectives from Waikato and Caterbury business sector (3pm)

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.

Day two opening (10am)

Opening from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

Lockdowns: Research perspectives on social impacts (10:05am)

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)

Community representatives

Kaikaranga

Disability Connect

Te Roopu Waiora

Lockdowns: Perspectives from the general practice sector (1:45pm)

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

Lockdowns: Perspectives from support organisations for older people (2:45pm)

Grey Power New Zealand Federation Inc

Age Concern

Lockdowns: Perspectives from the Pasifika health and social services sector (3:45pm)

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)

CNSST Foundation

Falelalaga Village Limited

Congregational Christian Church of Samoa

Lockdowns: Perspectives from Auckland Council (11:30am)

Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland Council

Lockdowns: Perspectives from Māori health and social services organisations (1:15pm)

Te Whānau o Waipareira

Tamaki ki Te Tonga District Māori Council

Lockdowns: Perspectives from the education sector (2:30pm)

Ngā Tumuaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Principals’ Federation

Kaitaia College

Lockdowns: Perspectives from young people (3:30pm)

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)

The Health Forum New Zealand

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)

New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science

Vaccine safety: Misinformation and disinformation (2:30pm)

Fighting Against Conspiracy Theories (FACT) Aotearoa

Vaccine safety: Vaccine science (3:45pm)

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)

Port Companies CEO Group

Hato Hone - St John

Autism New Zealand

Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from the nursing and midwifery sectors (12pm)

Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Nurses Organisation

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)

Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau - Auckland University of Technology

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha - University of Canterbury

Vaccine safety: Perspectives on communication regarding the vaccine (3:45pm)

Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland

Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from mandated industries (4:30pm)

Hospitality New Zealand