3 days ago
Royal Commission On COVID-19: They Are Not Even Good At Applying The Whitewash
The refusal of several former Labour Ministers to voluntarily appear before New Zealand's Royal Commission of Inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic response is a serious affront to transparency, accountability, and the public's right to know.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry was established to examine and report on the decisions, policies, and actions taken in response to COVID-19, with a mandate to learn lessons for future emergencies. Under the Inquiries Act 2013, the Commission has clear procedural powers, including the authority to issue summonses that compel witnesses to attend and give evidence under oath.
Royal Commission Powers Under the Inquiries Act 2013:
Section 23 gives the Commission the power to summon any person to appear and give evidence under oath.
It can require the production of any relevant documents, records, or data.
Witnesses must answer questions; refusal can result in prosecution.
Powers extend to individuals no longer in government or public service.
Evidence forms part of the official historical account and recommendations for future emergencies.
Given the gravity of the pandemic's social, economic, and health impacts, it is not acceptable for those who held primary responsibility to decline engagement. The public expects, and the law provides for the appearance of all key decision-makers who shaped the national response. The Commission's credibility depends on its willingness to compel the participation of those with the most direct knowledge and authority. New Zealanders endured unprecedented restrictions on movement, business closures, and extraordinary government intervention in daily life. These were extraordinary powers, and they demand extraordinary accountability.
We call on the Royal Commission to exercise its full statutory authority and issue summonses without delay to all former Ministers and senior officials who held responsibility for COVID-19 decision-making.
Failure to do so will leave critical gaps in the historical record, undermine the public trust the Commission is meant to uphold, and confirm that it is nothing more than a whitewash operation.
