We are happy to announce that the terms of reference on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response have been expanded.
This includes what we committed to in our coalition agreement, to:
Ensure, as a matter of urgency in establishment and completion, a full scale, wide ranging, independent inquiry conducted publicly with local and international experts, into how the Covid pandemic was handled in New Zealand, including covering:
- Use of multiple lockdowns,
- Vaccine procurement and efficacy,
- The social and economic impacts on both regional and national levels, and
- Whether the decisions made, and steps taken, were justified.
And further terms of reference will now include:
- The cost-effectiveness of the Government’s policies, and whether the rules set by the Government appropriately balanced Covid-19 elimination with other goals
- The Government’s utilisation of partnerships with business and professional groups
- The extent of disruption to New Zealanders’ health, education, and business as a result of the Government’s policies
- If the Government’s response was consistent with the rule of law
- How New Zealand’s pandemic preparedness compared to other countries
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