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.
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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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Leah McKerrow, CEO, NorthChamber |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Waikato and Canterbury business sector (3pm) |
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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.
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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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Dr Nick Long, Dr Eleanor Holroyd, and Dr Antje Deckert - 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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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 Denise Hoffman, Community Disability Information Advisor, Disability Connect Tania Kingi MNZM (Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāi Tai), Chief Executive, Te Roopu Waiora |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from the general practice sector (1:45pm) |
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Dr Fiona Bolden, Chair, Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network Dr Angus Chambers, Chair, General Practice Owners Association Dr Bryan Betty, Chair, General Practice NZ |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from support organisations for older people (2:45pm) |
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Gayle Chambers, National President, Grey Power New Zealand Federation Inc Karen Billings-Jensen, Chief Executive, He Manaakitanga Kaumātua Aotearoa – Age Concern New Zealand |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from the Pasifika health and social services sector (3:45pm) |
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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.
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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) |
| 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 |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Auckland Council (11:30am) |
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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 |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from Māori health and social services organisations (1:15pm) |
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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 |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from the education sector (2:30pm) |
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Leanne Otene, National President, Ngā Tumuaki o Aotearoa - New Zealand Principals’ Federation Alexandra Kingi, Deputy Principal, Kaitaia College |
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Lockdowns: Perspectives from young people (3:30pm) |
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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.
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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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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 |
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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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Matt Shelton and Dr Alison Goodwin, Co-founders, New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science |
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Vaccine safety: Misinformation and disinformation (2:30pm) |
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Jacinta O'Reilly, Fighting Against Conspiracy Theories (FACT) Aotearoa |
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Vaccine safety: Vaccine science (3:45pm) |
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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.
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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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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 |
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Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from the nursing and midwifery sectors (12pm) |
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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 |
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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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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 |
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Vaccine safety: Perspectives on communication regarding the vaccine (3:45pm) |
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Associate Professor Helen Petoussis-Harris, Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland |
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Vaccine mandates: Perspectives from mandated industries (4:30pm) |
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Darelle Jenkins, Head of Membership, Hospitality New Zealand |