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:

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)

Leah McKerrow, CEO, NorthChamber
Tim Robinson, President, 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

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

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