NZ Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned - Phase Two
By Louisa Wall
Chair Tuwharetoa IMPB and Executive Member of Kaitiaki Hauora
Kaitiaki Hauora welcomes the continued work of the New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned in documenting the experiences of individuals, communities and sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Capturing lived experiences is essential to strengthening Aotearoa New Zealand’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.
The Phase Two report summarises more than 31,800 public submissions and engagement with 108 organisations and sector representatives. While the report notes that the submissions process was not designed as a representative sample of the population, it records that approximately 85 per cent of submissions were broadly critical of the Government’s response, with smaller proportions expressing support or mixed views.
Kaitiaki Hauora acknowledges that the pandemic was an extraordinarily difficult period for many individuals, families and communities. The health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic and the associated public health measures continue to be felt across the country. It is important that these experiences are heard and respectfully considered as part of the national reflection on how best to respond to future pandemics.
However, the volume of critical submissions must also be understood in context. Self-selected submissions tend to attract those with strong views and are not a reliable indicator of broader public sentiment at the time decisions were made. During the pandemic, Aotearoa New Zealand’s public health response was widely recognised internationally as having protected population health during the early phases of the crisis, particularly before vaccines became widely available.
The report highlights that many submissions criticised vaccine mandates, vaccine safety and approvals, and lockdowns. These were among the most consequential decisions taken by the Government during 2021 and 2022. Kaitiaki Hauora emphasises that such measures were implemented in the context of an evolving global emergency, limited early treatment options, and the need to protect health system capacity. Decisions were informed by public health advice, international evidence and the precautionary principle.
From a public health perspective, several elements of the response were critical in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and protecting vulnerable populations. These included:
• Rapid public health mobilisation
• Use of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as masks, testing, tracing and isolation
• Vaccination programmes to reduce severe illness and death
• Temporary restrictions on movement during periods of uncontrolled transmission
While these measures had significant social and economic consequences, they were implemented to prevent far greater loss of life and health system collapse. Pandemic responses inevitably involve difficult trade-offs between competing public interests.
Kaitiaki Hauora considers that the most important lessons from the pandemic relate not only to the specific tools used but also to the strength and resilience of the public health system itself. The pandemic exposed longstanding structural weaknesses, including:
• Chronic underinvestment in public health infrastructure
• Workforce shortages across the health system
• Fragmented data systems and surveillance capability
• Inequities in health outcomes for Māori and Pacific communities
Future pandemic preparedness must prioritise sustained investment in these areas. A resilient system requires strong public health institutions, a well supported workforce, robust disease surveillance, and trusted community engagement mechanisms.
Equally important is ensuring that future responses uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. Māori communities demonstrated leadership and innovation during the pandemic, particularly through iwi-led vaccination drives, community checkpoints and local public health initiatives. These responses highlighted the importance of partnership and the effectiveness of locally led solutions.
Kaitiaki Hauora also emphasises the need to strengthen public communication during health crises. Clear, transparent and consistent communication builds trust and helps communities understand why difficult decisions are necessary. Misinformation and distrust can undermine effective public health action if not addressed early and proactively.
Looking forward, Aotearoa New Zealand must focus on building a cohesive and trusted pandemic preparedness framework. This includes:
• Strengthening public health capability and workforce capacity
• Improving coordination between central government, local authorities and community organisations
• Embedding equity and Te Tiriti partnership across all planning
• Investing in public health infrastructure, research and data systems
• Ensuring future emergency powers are transparent, proportionate and regularly reviewed
The COVID-19 pandemic was a defining public health event for this generation. It revealed both the strengths of Aotearoa New Zealand’s collective response and the systemic weaknesses that must now be addressed.
Kaitiaki Hauora supports a careful and evidence-based assessment of the pandemic response. The ultimate goal must not be to revisit past divisions but to ensure that the country is better prepared, more equitable and more resilient when the next pandemic inevitably occurs.
Kaitiaki Hauora welcomes the ongoing work of the New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned in documenting the experiences of communities and sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Capturing lived experiences is important for strengthening Aotearoa New Zealand’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.
The Phase Two report summarises more than 31,800 public submissions and engagement with 108 organisations and sector representatives. While around 85 per cent of submissions were broadly critical of the Government’s response, the Inquiry also notes that the submissions process was not designed to be representative of the wider population. Self-selected submissions tend to reflect strongly held views rather than the full range of public opinion at the time decisions were made.
The pandemic was an extraordinarily difficult period for many individuals, families and communities. The health, economic and social impacts continue to be felt across the country, and these experiences deserve to be heard.
At the same time, public health measures such as vaccination, testing, tracing, masks and temporary restrictions were implemented in the context of a global emergency and limited treatment options. These measures helped protect health system capacity and reduce severe illness and death.
The most important lesson for the future is the need for a stronger, better resourced public health system that upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi, strengthens community partnerships and ensures Aotearoa New Zealand is better prepared for future pandemics.