Latest news with #Covid19Inquiry
RNZ News
27-04-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Last call to share Covid-19 pandemic experience with inquiry
Defence lawyer Grant Illingworth in court. Photo: RNZ/Kim Baker Wilson The chairperson of the Covid-19 inquiry has put out a last-minute call for people to share their experiences of the pandemic. Public submissions close at midnight Sunday, but Grant Illingworth KC said it was important to hear from as many people as possible, as it will provide a fuller picture of how both the pandemic and the government's response to it affected people. "We strongly encourage you. Every single person has their own story to tell. Every single life really matters and we want as many people as possible to share their perspectives of what happened during Covid." The Inquiry was currently reviewing key decisions the Government made in response to the pandemic between February 2021 and October 2022. It said a "key decision" was one made by the government that had a "significant impact on a large number of people or had a significant cost at a national or regional level (or both)". The Inquiry's focus is on three main areas: Illingworth said it means those who previously did not feel heard could have their say. "We have to sift through the evidence and decide which parts of that evidence are reliable and which parts are unreliable, and looking into the issues that are raised by people with an impartial and independent approach. "So people who have been affected by vaccines, people who believe the vaccines were not safe, and people who think perhaps that the lockdowns in Auckland and Northland went on for too long." Illingworth said if the inquiry did not hear from these people, it could not say what the consequences were of the decisions made during the period of the inquiry. Over the coming months, the Inquiry will hold interviews with policy makers and advisors, and meet with some of the communities most affected by the pandemic. It will also collect information and evidence, including from government departments. The Inquiry will hold public hearings later in 2025. Anyone who wants to make a submission can either go to the [ Covid 19 Inquiry website] or call 0800 500 306. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Last-minute call for people to share Covid experiences
The chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry has put out a last-minute call for people to share their experiences during the global pandemic. Public submissions, which opened on February 3, close at midnight this Sunday. More than 7300 submissions had already been received, with vaccine mandates a topic of significant focus for many submitters to date from across the country, an Inquiry spokesperson said. The use of lockdowns was also a frequent topic, particularly among residents of the Auckland and Northland regions, where lockdown was extended in late 2021. Inquiry chair Grant Illingworth KC said it was important to hear from as many people as possible, as everyone experienced the pandemic and its impact in different ways. "[It] was an incredibly difficult time, and many people are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and the response to it, whether those be physical, emotional, or financial." Hearing from the public was "a very important" part of the work of the Inquiry, he added. "By hearing about a wide range of experiences, we can understand the impact the pandemic and New Zealand's response to it had on New Zealanders, as well as what the public think should be done to address future pandemics." Illingworth said he wanted to hear from "everyone from individuals, communities, businesses, iwi, and others on how their lives were affected and changed during the pandemic". These experiences would help the Inquiry "provide careful, considered recommendations" to the government on how New Zealand could be prepared to respond to future pandemics, he added. The inquiry was currently reviewing key decisions the government made in response to the pandemic between February 2021 and October 2022. It said a "key decision" was one made by the government that had a "significant impact on a large number of people or had a significant cost at a national or regional level (or both)". The Inquiry's focus is on three main areas: - Vaccines, including the use of mandates, the approval of vaccines, and vaccine safety - Lockdowns, especially the national lockdown in August and September 2021 and the Auckland/Northland extended lockdown late 2021. - Testing, tracing, and other public health tools. Over the coming months, the inquiry will hold interviews with policy makers and advisors, and meet with some of the communities most affected by the pandemic. It will also collect information and evidence, including from government departments. The inquiry will hold public hearings later in 2025. Anyone who wants to make a submission can either go to the [ Covid 19 Inquiry website] or call 0800 500 306. Submissions close on at midnight on 27 April 2025. To find out more about the Inquiry go to:
Otago Daily Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Last-minute call for people to share pandemic experiences
Covid-19 Inquiry chair Grant Illingworth KC . Photo: RNZ The chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry has put out a last-minute call for people to share their experiences during the global pandemic. Public submissions, which opened on February 3, close at midnight this Sunday. More than 7300 submissions had already been received, with vaccine mandates a topic of significant focus for many submitters to date from across the country, an Inquiry spokesperson said. The use of lockdowns was also a frequent topic, particularly among residents of the Auckland and Northland regions, where lockdown was extended in late 2021. Inquiry chair Grant Illingworth KC said it was important to hear from as many people as possible, as everyone experienced the pandemic and its impact in different ways. "[It] was an incredibly difficult time, and many people are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and the response to it, whether those be physical, emotional, or financial." Hearing from the public was "a very important" part of the work of the Inquiry, he added. "By hearing about a wide range of experiences, we can understand the impact the pandemic and New Zealand's response to it had on New Zealanders, as well as what the public think should be done to address future pandemics." Illingworth said he wanted to hear from "everyone from individuals, communities, businesses, iwi, and others on how their lives were affected and changed during the pandemic". These experiences would help the Inquiry "provide careful, considered recommendations" to the government on how New Zealand could be prepared to respond to future pandemics, he added. The inquiry was currently reviewing key decisions the government made in response to the pandemic between February 2021 and October 2022. It said a "key decision" was one made by the government that had a "significant impact on a large number of people or had a significant cost at a national or regional level (or both)". The Inquiry's focus is on three main areas: - Vaccines, including the use of mandates, the approval of vaccines, and vaccine safety - Lockdowns, especially the national lockdown in August and September 2021 and the Auckland/Northland extended lockdown late 2021. - Testing, tracing, and other public health tools. Over the coming months, the inquiry will hold interviews with policy makers and advisors, and meet with some of the communities most affected by the pandemic. It will also collect information and evidence, including from government departments. The inquiry will hold public hearings later in 2025. Anyone who wants to make a submission can either go to the [ Covid 19 Inquiry website] or call 0800 500 306. Submissions close on at midnight on 27 April 2025. To find out more about the Inquiry go to:
Otago Daily Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Covid inquiry public submissions closing this weekend
The chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry has put out a last-minute call for people to share their experiences during the global pandemic. Public submissions, which opened on February 3, close at midnight this Sunday. More than 7300 submissions had already been received, with vaccine mandates a topic of significant focus for many submitters to date from across the country, an Inquiry spokesperson said. The use of lockdowns was also a frequent topic, particularly among residents of the Auckland and Northland regions, where lockdown was extended in late 2021. Inquiry chair Grant Illingworth KC said it was important to hear from as many people as possible, as everyone experienced the pandemic and its impact in different ways. "[It] was an incredibly difficult time, and many people are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and the response to it, whether those be physical, emotional, or financial." Hearing from the public was "a very important" part of the work of the Inquiry, he added. "By hearing about a wide range of experiences, we can understand the impact the pandemic and New Zealand's response to it had on New Zealanders, as well as what the public think should be done to address future pandemics." Illingworth said he wanted to hear from "everyone from individuals, communities, businesses, iwi, and others on how their lives were affected and changed during the pandemic". These experiences would help the Inquiry "provide careful, considered recommendations" to the government on how New Zealand could be prepared to respond to future pandemics, he added. The inquiry was currently reviewing key decisions the government made in response to the pandemic between February 2021 and October 2022. It said a "key decision" was one made by the government that had a "significant impact on a large number of people or had a significant cost at a national or regional level (or both)". The Inquiry's focus is on three main areas: - Vaccines, including the use of mandates, the approval of vaccines, and vaccine safety - Lockdowns, especially the national lockdown in August and September 2021 and the Auckland/Northland extended lockdown late 2021. - Testing, tracing, and other public health tools. Over the coming months, the inquiry will hold interviews with policy makers and advisors, and meet with some of the communities most affected by the pandemic. It will also collect information and evidence, including from government departments. The inquiry will hold public hearings later in 2025. Anyone who wants to make a submission can either go to the [ Covid 19 Inquiry website] or call 0800 500 306. Submissions close on at midnight on 27 April 2025. To find out more about the Inquiry go to:
RNZ News
24-04-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Covid 19 Inquiry public submissions closing this weekend
Inquiry chair Grant Illingworth KC . Photo: RNZ/Kim Baker Wilson The chair of the Covid 19 Inquiry has put out a last minute call for people to share their experiences during the global pandemic. Public submissions, which opened on February 3rd, close at midnight this Sunday. More than 7,300 submissions had already been received, with vaccine mandates a topic of significant focus for many submitters to date from across the motu, an Inquiry spokesperson said. The use of lockdowns was also a frequent topic, particularly among residents of the Auckland and Northland regions, where lockdown was extended in late 2021. Inquiry chair Grant Illingworth KC said it was important to hear from as many people as possible, as everyone experienced the pandemic and its impact in different ways. "[It] was an incredibly difficult time, and many people are still feeling the effects of the pandemic and the response to it, whether those be physical, emotional, or financial." Hearing from the public was "a very important" part of the work of the Inquiry, he added. "By hearing about a wide range of experiences, we can understand the impact the pandemic and New Zealand's response to it had on New Zealanders, as well as what the public think should be done to address future pandemics." Illingworth said he wanted to hear from "everyone from individuals, communities, businesses, iwi, and others on how their lives were affected and changed during the pandemic". These experiences would help the Inquiry "provide careful, considered recommendations" to the government on how New Zealand could be prepared to respond to future pandemics, he added. The Inquiry was currently reviewing key decisions the Government made in response to the pandemic between February 2021 and October 2022. It said a "key decision" was one made by the government that had a "significant impact on a large number of people or had a significant cost at a national or regional level (or both)". The Inquiry's focus is on three main areas: Over the coming months, the Inquiry will hold interviews with policy makers and advisors, and meet with some of the communities most affected by the pandemic. It will also collect information and evidence, including from government departments. The Inquiry will hold public hearings later in 2025. Anyone who wants to make a submission can either go to the [ Covid 19 Inquiry website] or call 0800 500 306. Submissions close on at midnight on 27 April 2025. To find out more about the Inquiry go to: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
