Record of Inquiry engagements

The Royal Commission has been engaging with key individuals, organisations, and communities to identify the lessons learned from Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 that should be applied in preparation for any future pandemic.

The initial tranche of our mahi has focused on identifying and examining information from a wide range of publicly available sources about the COVID-19 response, such as published reports or reviews.

We are currently hearing from the individuals, organisations, and communities that played a key role in Aotearoa New Zealand’s response. This includes decision and policy makers, Iwi and Māori organisations, business associations, academics and researchers, and many more. The insights, reflections, and perspectives of those we’ve met with so far have been a valuable source of information and evidence to the Inquiry.

The names of individuals and organisations listed below are published in accordance with “Minute 2: Inquiry meeting procedure and information gathering,” found on the "How We Will Work” page of our website. This list does not include any follow-up meetings we have held or plan to hold.

We will continue to update this list on a monthly basis.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington 

• As part of a school principals’ peak bodies group meeting:
  • • Secondary Principals Association New Zealand as the only independent organisation representing New Zealand secondary principals.
    • Secondary Principals’ Council of Aotearoa as the representatives for secondary and area school principals who are members of the Post Primary Teachers’ Association.
• Andy Milne as the former Deputy Secretary at Hīkina Whakatutuki| Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for the Managed Isolation Quarantine facilities.
• Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa | New Zealand Productivity Commission as an independent Crown Entity that provides advice to the government on improving productivity in a way that supports the overall wellbeing of New Zealanders, a wide range of communities of interest, and population groups in New Zealand society.
• Te Riu Roa | New Zealand Education Institute as the largest education sector union in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Wehengarua | Post Primary Teachers’ Association as the professional association and union of teachers and principals committed to improving secondary education for New Zealand students.
• As part of a Māori broadcasting group meeting:
  • • Whakaata Māori (formerly known as Māori Television) as Aotearoa New Zealand’s national indigenous media organisation.
    • Te Māngai Pāho as an independent Crown entity that acts first and foremost as a Māori language agency.
• As part of a tertiary students’ association group meeting:
  • • New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations as the advocacy group representing students in universities and polytechnics across Aotearoa New Zealand.
    • New Zealand International Students’ Association as an umbrella body that represents the collective voice among international students studying in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    • Te Mana Ākonga | Māori Tertiary Students’ Association as an advocacy and support body for tauira Māori throughout Aotearoa New Zealand in Tertiary Education.
    • National Disabled Students’ Association as a non-partisan national body that represents disabled tauira, and aims to challenge the collective barriers facing disabled tauira within the tertiary education space.
• Network 4 Learning as a Crown-owned technology company that connects schools and kura across Aotearoa New Zealand to safe and reliable internet.
• New Zealand Pasifika Principals Association as a representative body proactively advancing Pasifika education.
• As part of a Māori medium education group meeting:
  • • Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa as the national collective body of kura kaupapa Māori.
    • Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa as an organisation focused on the wellbeing of students, and the flow on effects to families and communities for generations.
    • Te Kōhanga Reo Trust as a movement which works to build rich language and cultural spaces alongside whānau, where they are involved in their children’s learning.
• Te Akatea | Māori Principals’ Association as a representative body for Māori leaders in kura across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Manapou ki te Ao | Education New Zealand as a government agency that promotes Aotearoa New Zealand as a study destination and supports the delivery of education services offshore.

Ōtautahi | Christchurch

• As part of a rural and farming forum:
  • • Federated Farmers (Mid-Canterbury) as a key, independent rural advocacy organisation.
    • Rural Leaders as an organisation that works closely with partner organisations, alumni and industry networks to collaborate on projects that ensure Aotearoa New Zealand remains at the global forefront of food and fibre.
    • Rural Women New Zealand as the voice on health services, education, environment and social issues in the rural sector.
    • Rural Support Trust (Mid-Canterbury) as part of a nationwide network that can assist individuals and communities during and after extreme weather and other adverse advents.
• As part of a local government forum:
  • • Christchurch City Council as the governing body of the Christchurch region.
    • Selwyn District Council as the governing body of the Selwyn region.
    • Waimakariri District Council as the governing body of the Waimakariri region.
    • Environment Canterbury Regional Council as the governing body of the Canterbury region, working alongside Ngāi Tahu.
• As part of a business and economics forum:
  • • Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce as the voice of Canterbury business.
    • Christchurch NZ as the city’s sustainable economic development and city profile agency.
    • Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury as a tertiary education provider in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    • Giesen Group as a family-owned winery business in the Marlborough region.
    • Christchurch Casino Ltd as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s casinos.
    • Ravensdown as an organisation that provides innovative farming support.
• Nurse Maude as a large and diverse organisation providing care across Canterbury and extending to Nelson/Marlborough and Wellington.
• As part of a primary health organisation group meeting
  • • Christchurch Primary Health Organisation as a not-for-profit health care services provider in the Canterbury region.
    • Waitaha Primary Health as a provider and supporter of health services in Canterbury’s rural and urban communities.
    • The Canterbury Initiative as a key project undertaken by Te Whatu Ora that focuses on addressing and resolving the challenges of health care in Canterbury.
    • The Canterbury Primary Response Group as a collective of health professionals and provider organisations tasked by Te Whatu Ora to lead the Canterbury district’s primary care emergency planning, response, and recovery.
• Te Whatu Ora regional directors as public health leaders from across the South Island.
• Te Mana Ora | Community & Public Health as the providers of public health services in Canterbury, South Canterbury, the West Coast and Chatham Islands.
• Heritage and Rosewood Lifecare as aged residential care providers.

Te Papa-i-Oea | Palmerston North

• Palmerston North hospital as the base regional hospital in Palmerston North.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington

• Te Mana Mātāpono Matatapu | The Office of the Privacy Commissioner as an independent crown entity with a focus on maintaining privacy rights.
• MartinJenkins as an organisational, financial, economic, and public policy consultancy agency.
• Professor Michael Plank and Professor Shaun Hendy as prominent mathematics and science researchers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Manatū Waka | Ministry of Transport as the Government’s system lead on transport.
• Christchurch Airport as a key airport for the South Island.
• Te Aka Whai Ora | Māori Health Authority as an independent statutory authority to drive improvement in hauora Māori and to lead and coordinate the delivery of health services across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Accident Compensation Corporation as the crown entity set up under the Accident Compensation Act 2001 to deliver injury prevention initiatives and no-fault injury cover for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko i te Ora | Māori Women’s Welfare League Inc. as the only national charitable Māori women’s organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa | New Zealand Customs Service as the government department that stops any potential dangers, hazards and threats from entering Aotearoa New Zealand.
• The Right Honourable Dame Helen Winkelmann, Justice Susan Thomas, and Justice Mark Cooper as key individuals in Aotearoa New Zealand’s justice system.
• Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs as the government department that serves and connects people, communities and government to build a safe, prosperous and respected nation.
• Manatū Aorere | New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as the government department that acts on the world stage to build a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable future for New Zealanders.
• Manatū Tāonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage as the government agency that supports many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s arts, media, heritage, and sports organisations, as well as advising the government on cultural matters, and providing research and resources for everyone to access.
• Waka Kotahi | New Zealand Transport Agency as the government agency that supports Aotearoa New Zealand’s land transport system to connect people, products and places.
• Justice Sector Leadership Board (including representatives from Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police, Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections, and Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children) as senior leaders from the core justice sector government agencies.
• Early Childhood Council as a non-profit organisation that represents the interests of independently owned early childhood centres in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Kaunihera Māori o Aotearoa | New Zealand Māori Council as advocates for policy development and community initiatives that contribute to te mana motuhake o te iwi Māori.
• Institute of Environmental Science and Research as a Crown Research Institute that plays a critical national role in public health and forensics.
• Ngā Tamariki Puāwai o Tāmaki | Auckland Kindergarten Association as Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest Kindergarten Association.
• Barbara Ala'alatoa as the former Principal of Sylvia Park School in South Auckland.
• National Hauora Coalition Group as a charitable social enterprise and Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest Māori-led Public Health Organisation.
• Dame Naida Glavish as a Pou Tangata and Hauora lead for the National Iwi Chairs Forum, and as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prominent Māori leaders.
• Te Whatu Ora Executive Leadership Team as key decision-makers within the health sector.
• New Zealand Red Cross as a humanitarian network of more than 10,000 members, volunteers and staff working to support people throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga as a collective of three Wānanga in Aotearoa New Zealand – Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
• Te Pūkenga as Aotearoa new Zealand’s largest tertiary education provider. 

Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland 

• Waipareira Trust as a services and support provider for whānau of all ages in West Auckland.
• Whai Māia - Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust as entities focused on advancing the cultural, social and environmental aspirations of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
• As part of an Auckland regional boundary business forum: 
  • • Auckland Policy Office as a representative body made up of central government agencies with a focus on Auckland policy and growth.
    • Restaurant Association of New Zealand as a key advocacy group and support provider for restaurants.
    • Tātaki Auckland Unlimited as Auckland’s economic and cultural agency committed to making the region a desirable place to live, work, visit, invest and do business.
    • Heart of the City Auckland as the business association for Auckland’s city centre.
    • Retail New Zealand as the voice of the retail sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    • Employers and Manufacturers Association as a key entity with a view on business support measures and other settings that affected businesses during the COVID-19 response.
• Auckland International Airport as New Zealand’s largest airport.
• Auckland Council Community Panel Chairs and Co-Chairs as advisors to the Auckland Council on the interests and preferences of a variety of communities.
• Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Council as the governing body of the Auckland region.
• Faith-based leaders (convened by the Ministry of Ethnic Communities) as leaders and influencers in their respective communities.
• Foodstuffs North Island as an umbrella cooperative organisation for several grocery brands in the North Island.
• Manukau Urban Māori Authority as a pan-tribal organisation that sets out to foster the economic, social, and community development of Māori living in cities.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington

• Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga | Education Review Office as the Government’s external evaluation agency that informs and facilitates the improvement in early learning services, kōhanga reo, puna kōhungahunga, kura and schools.
• Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission as an independent Crown entity and Aotearoa New Zealand’s national human rights institution.
• Te Toihau Hauora, Hauātanga | Health and Disability Commissioner as an independent Crown entity that promotes and protects people’s rights (as set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights).
• Mana Mokopuna | Children and Young People’s Commission as an independent Crown entity advocating for all mokopuna aged under 18 in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa | New Zealand Qualifications Authority as a Crown entity that administers educational assessments and qualifications.
• Deputy Prime Minister Hon Carmel Sepuloni primarily as the current Minister for Social Development and Employment and the Minister/Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage; as well as the former Minister for Disability Issues, former Minister for ACC, and former Associate Minister for Pacific Peoples.
• Māori Wardens as a network of community volunteers providing key supportive services across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• He Toa Takitini | New Zealand Māori Tourism as a leading agency in the Māori tourism sector, supporting leaders and partnerships that generate value in the Māori and wider tourism sector.
• Business New Zealand as Aotearoa New Zealand's largest advocacy group for enterprise, representing thousands of businesses across the country.
• Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) as Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest state school that offers a wide range of personalised learning programmes and courses, most of which are delivered online.
• Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice as the Government’s lead provider on a range of justice services across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police as the government agency that delivers services to ensure people can be safe and feel safe in their homes, on our roads, and in their communities.
• Me Uru Kahikatea | Federation of Māori Authorities Inc. as a collective of Māori trusts and organisations across Aotearoa that help members to proposer, grow and achieve greater returns, increasing exports and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children as the government agency responsible for the care and protection of children and young people whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm, as well as addressing offending by children and young people.
• Manatū Kaupapa Waonga | Ministry of Defence and Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa | New Zealand Defence Force as two government agencies responsible for keeping Aotearoa New Zealand safe and protected.
• Tumuaki o te Mana Arotake | Office of the Auditor General as an independent agency that provides the Parliament and the public with a view of how public organisations are operating.
• Manatū Wahine | Ministry for Women as the Government’s principal advisor on improving the lives of wāhine | women and kōtiro | girls in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Puna Aonui | Interdepartmental Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence as a joint venture with government agencies to align whole-of-government strategy, policy, and investment to eliminate family violence and sexual violence.
• Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Ministry for Housing and Urban Development as the government agency that shapes the strategies and work programmes for housing and urban development in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections as the government agency that provides a range of programmes that help to reduce re-offending.

Tairāwhiti | Gisborne 

• Turanga and Tairawhiti Iwi:
  • • Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou as a prominent Iwi organisation in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region.
    • Te Aitanga a Mahaki Trust as a prominent Iwi organisation in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region.
    • Tāmanuhiri Tūtū Poroporo Trust as a prominent Iwi organisation in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region.
    • Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust as a prominent Iwi organisation in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region.
    • Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa as a prominent Iwi organisation in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region.
• Turanga and Tairawhiti Iwi health providers:
  • • Te Hauora o Turanganui a Kiwi Ltd | Turanga Health as an Iwi health provider and general practice clinic.
    • Ngāti Porou Oranga as an integrated health, development and support services provider.
    • Turanga and Tairawhiti Hapū leads and Community Hub representatives.
• As part of a health providers and networks forum:
  • • Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti as the Gisborne region’s health board.
    • Takatu Hub as a health and wellbeing call centre service for whānau in Tairāwhiti who need immediate health advice and support.
    • Pinnacle Incorporated Tairāwhiti as a group of not-for-profit primary health care organisations.
    • Three Rivers Medical as a primary health care centre providing a variety of facilities.
• Te Kaunihera o Te Tairāwhiti | Gisborne District Council as the governing body of the Tairāwhiti | Gisborne region.
• As part of a business and economic forum:
  • • Trust Tairāwhiti as a regional wellbeing trust with a strategic focus on community initiatives, economic development and providing for future generations.
    • Cedenco Foods New Zealand as Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading ingredients company.
    • Kaiaponi Farms as the growers and producers of apples, citrus fruits, feijoas and kiwifruit.
    • People Plus as a human resources, employment relations, immigration, and recruitment specialist organisation.
• As part of an education-focused forum:
  • • Te Aho o Māui | Tairāwhiti Eastern Institute of Technology as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading tertiary education providers, serving the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions.
    • Matapuna Training Centre as a provider of courses designed to help participants move towards a career of their choice.
    • Tolaga Bay Area School as a local primary education provider.
    • Kaiti School as a local primary education provider.
    • Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education as the Government’s lead advisor on Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system; specifically focusing on the Tairāwhiti region.
    • Te Wānanga o Aotearoa as a provider of holistic education opportunities of the highest quality for Māori, peoples of Aotearoa, and the world.
    • Gisborne Boys’ High School as a local secondary education provider.
    • Ilminster Intermediate School as a local primary education provider.
    • David Langford as a former principal in a range of rural, urban, high and low decile schools.

Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland 

• Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles as a key science communicator and researcher during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Auckland City Hospital as New Zealand's largest public hospital and clinical research facility.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington

• Federated Farmers of New Zealand as a key, independent rural advocacy organisation.
• COVID-19 Disability Response Network as a network of advocates for disabled communities throughout the response to COVID-19.
• Sir Ashley Bloomfield as the former Director-General of Health.
• Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education as the Government’s lead advisor on New Zealand’s education system.
• Tatauranga Aotearoa | Stats NZ as the Government’s lead data and statistics agency.
• Public Sector Health agency Chief Executives and Deputy Chief Executives (Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health, Te Aka Whai Ora | Māori Health Authority, Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand, Whaikaha | Ministry of Disabled People, and Te Aho o Te Kahu | Cancer Control Agency) to understand the best approach in facilitating engagements with the wider health sector.
• Dr Caroline McElnay as the former Director of Public Health.
• Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa | Medical Council of New Zealand as a key organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand that strives to protect and promote public health and safety.
• Shayne Hunter as the former Deputy Director-General for the Data & Digital division at the Ministry of Health.
• Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa | Nursing Council of New Zealand as the regulatory authority for nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Pai Ora o Aotearoa | Social Service Providers Aotearoa as a wide-ranging national organisation comprising of over 200 community-based social organisations in rural and urban areas around Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Manatū Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries as a core government agency responsible for a broad range of advice and services that were critical during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
• Te Kaunihera o Ngā Kāreti Rata o Aotearoa | Council of Medical Colleges as the representative body for Aotearoa New Zealand’s 17 medical colleges (responsible for training, examining, and recertifying medical practitioners across a range of specialities).
• Kāhui Mataika o te Motu | National Ethics Advisory Committee as an independent group of experts (in a variety of fields) who determine nationally consistent ethical standards across the health sector and provide scrutiny for national health and research services.
• Peter Mersi as the former Chief Executive of the Ministry of Transport and a former head of the COVID-19 All of Government Response Group.
• Te Arawhiti | Office for Māori Crown Relations as the Government’s leading agency for Māori-Crown relationships.
• Border Executive Board as a single border voice and point of contact in the All of Government COVID-19 response.
• Te Rāku Whakamarumaru | National Emergency Management Agency as the steward, operator, and assurer of the emergency management system; and Sarah Stuart-Black as the former Director Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) and CDEM National Controller.
• Dr Shane Reti as a Member of Parliament and National party spokesperson for the Health, Māori-Crown Relations, and Pacific Peoples portfolios.
• Hon Andrew Little primarily as the former Minister of Health; as well as the previous Minister of Justice, the Minister for Courts, and the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety.
• Professor Michael Baker, Professor Nick Wilson and Dr Amanda Kvalsvig as members of the University of Otago COVID-19 Research Group.
• Te Kauae Kaimahi | New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Affiliate Unions as the united voice for working people and their families, bringing together 27 affiliated unions.
• Hon Dr David Clark primarily as the former Minister of Health.
• Hon Peeni Henare primarily in relation to the work of the Māori Caucus in the COVID-19 response.
• Hon Dr Megan Woods primarily as the current Minister of Housing, as well as the Minister for Building and Construction.
• Key individuals involved in the Managed Isolation and Quarantine facilities, including public and private sector representatives, to discuss the provision and operation of the facilities.
• Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard as a key individual in the All of Government Response to COVID-19, a key advisor to decision-makers, and as a leader amongst science advisors.
• Hon Aupito William Sio primarily as the former Minister for Pacific Peoples and in relation to the work of the Pacific Caucus at the time.
• Professor Ian Town as a key individual in the Ministry of Health and All of Government response to COVID-19.
• Hon Marama Davidson and Hon James Shaw as the Green Party co-leaders and Members of Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hon Davidson was also a member of the Epidemic Response Committee.
• Rt Hon Prime Minister Chris Hipkins primarily as the former Minister of Education, the former Minister of Health, and the first Minister for the COVID-19 Response.
• Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as the entity responsible for assessing and reporting on the status of, and the influencing factors on, the mental health and wellbeing of people in New Zealand. They also report on the effectiveness and efficiency of approaches and services, as well as provide recommendations for improvements.
• David Seymour primarily as a member of the COVID-19 Epidemic Response Committee, as well as the ACT party member with the portfolio for COVID-19 response.
• Hon Grant Robertson primarily as the current Minister of Finance; as well as the former Minister for Infrastructure, former Minister for Earthquake Commission, current Minister for Sport and Recreation, and former Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
• Hon Kelvin Davis primarily as the current Minister for Māori-Crown Relations, Minister for Children, and Minister of Corrections; as well as the Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education).
• Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall primarily as the former Associate Minister of Health, as well as the former Associate and lead Minister for the COVID-19 Response, and the current Minister of Health.
• Sir David Skegg as Chair of the Strategic COVID-19 Public Health Advisory Group and a member of the International Science Council’s working group on future scenarios for the COVID-19 pandemic.

For engagements that took place before August 2023, please refer to this list [PDF, 728 KB] .