Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern To Give Evidence To Covid Response Inquiry
The inquiry is looking into the government's response to the pandemic and its effects.
This week's hearings have concentrated on the impact of the extended lockdown in Auckland and Northland in 2021 and on vaccine mandates and safety.
RNZ previously reported that the commission had requested Ardern to give evidence at a public hearing in August.
But the commission said no decisions had been made about who would appear.
"The witness list is still under consideration, and it is not appropriate to make further comment about it at this stage," they said in a written statement.
"The Inquiry will share the witness list and more information about the planned August public hearing in due course."
A spokesperson for Ardern said she will provide evidence to assist the commission meet its terms of reference and are in discussions about the best way for that to happen.
She provided testimony to the first phase of the Inquiry, the spokesperson said.
"She is also happy for the commission to access her previous testimony," the spokesperson said.
The first phase was conducted behind closed doors with conclusions and recommendations made public afterwards.
The impact of the extended lockdown in Auckland and Northland in 2021 has been the main topic of discussion at this week's hearings.
On Tuesday, Dr Antje Deckert told the Inquiry that 63,000 lockdown breaches were reported to police by citizens during levels 4, 3 and 2.
Police road stops were also counterproductive because officers were often unclear on how to enforce lockdown rules, she said.
Deckert said people found it difficult balancing government messaging of being kind while also enforcing lockdown rules.
Representatives from the disabled community have revealed they were often a target of abuse during lockdowns.
A Pasifika health expert said the Pacific population was over-represented in all aspects of the pandemic.
Auckland Council disability advisory group co-chair Barry De Geest said because disabled people were often mask or vaccine exempt, it led to cases of discrimination.
"The number of people we had crying because they'd been uptown or done something and they were being abused by people saying you know 'put your mask on', you know 'think of us', you know so there was so much of that."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Oriini Kaipara to contest Tāmaki Makaurau by-election
By Giles Dexter of RNZ Former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara has been chosen to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election for Te Pāti Māori. Kaipara was selected at a behind-closed-doors hui at Hoani Waititi Marae tonight. The by-election has been triggered by the death of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, who died suddenly two weeks ago. She had been battling kidney disease. Te Pāti Māori said Kaipara (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi) had dedicated decades amplifying the stories of Māori communities, holding prime ministers to account and chairing nationally televised Māori electorate debates. The party co-leaders said she would bring a lifetime of leadership and advocacy, and that she understood the deep connection between whakapapa and politics. "Her voice is exactly what Tāmaki needs to honour the memory of Takutai Moana and to ensure Māori voices are heard loud and clear in Parliament," said co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. Kaipara said she was pledging to tackle the cost of living crisis facing Tāmaki whānau, with a focus on housing, youth homelessness, and skyrocketing food bills. "Māori are being attacked left, right and centre for purely existing. It's vile and it's not good enough," she said. "My role now is to move from covering the story to changing it." She said if elected, her key priorities would be securing mana whenua first right of refusal on significant private land, driving kaupapa Māori housing solutions to eliminate rangatahi houselessness, and expending investment in kaupapa Māori education models such as Te Aho Matua. Te Kou o Rehua Panapa, a former youth worker at Manurewa Marae had also sought the nomination. Hīkoi leader Eru Kapa-Kingi had earlier ruled out running. Kaipara has most recently worked as Pouwhiringa Māori culture lead for the New Zealand Olympic Committee. In 2021, she became the first wāhine Māori with moko kauae to present a mainstream news bulletin, when she fronted Newshub Live at 6pm. Labour's Peeni Henare previously held the Tāmaki Makaurau seat before being beaten by Kemp in the 2023 election by a slim margin of 42 votes. Henare had held the seat since 2014. RNZ understands Labour's internal nomination process is under way and will close on Friday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is yet to announce the date for a by-election. However, the Speaker of the House published the notice of vacancy in the Gazette yesterday, meaning the Governor-General will issue a writ within 21 days of July 9, instructing the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct the by-election.
Scoop
9 hours ago
- Scoop
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania Undecided On Future As Parliament Calls Grow
Article – RNZ Far North Mayor Moko Tepania has yet to decide if he'll seek a second term, with multiple political parties trying to convince him to run for Parliament instead. A high-profile Northland mayor has yet to decide if he'll seek a second term, with multiple political parties trying to convince him to run for Parliament instead. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said he would make the call about seeking re-election in the next few weeks after talking it over with whānau. Tepania confirmed he'd also been shoulder-tapped by a number of parties about entering national politics – but said he wasn't considering a tilt at Parliament 'at this point'. Tepania was just 31 when he was elected Northland's youngest mayor in 2022. He was also the Far North's first Māori mayor. The Kaikohe-based te reo teacher, who entered local politics as a councillor in 2019, said he was still considering whether to contest the mayoralty for a second time. 'It's such a big decision, so it's not one I want to take lightly … and it's not one that I can make on my own, because if I run again, and I get it, it's not just me that's going to be carrying the responsibilities of being there, but it's also my whānau by extension. So it's something that we are still giving careful consideration to.' Tepania said he decided to run for mayor in 2022 around the same time of year, Matariki and Puanga. 'It's a really good time to plan ahead, so I'm looking forward to making a decision in the next couple of weeks. If that decision is yes, Far Northerners are going to have me 110 percent for not only the campaign but, if successful, as mayor for the next three years.' Asked if he was considering a run at Parliament, Tepania said he would do it only if he was in 'a position of power to see transformative change for the people of the Far North'. 'Yes, I've been shoulder-tapped by a number of parties, but I wouldn't be looking to go to Wellington at this point. I wouldn't close any doors, of course. But for me, this decision is about the people of the Far North and whether or not I will run to be the mayor again.' One thing Tepania didn't have to mull over was his support for Māori wards. He was already campaigning for retention of the district's four-seat Ngā Tai o Tokerau ward, with its future to be decided in a government-mandated referendum held alongside the local elections in October. While Māori wards had failed to win majority support in past polls – including in the Far North in 2015 – he believed this time would be different, because during the past three years Far Northerners had seen the 'incredibly positive benefits' for council decision-making and communities. Tepania said it was 'really unfortunate' that only the Māori ward was subject to a binding poll, and none of the council's 16 other wards or community board subdivisions. Nominations for the upcoming local elections opened on 4 July and a list of candidates confirmed so far had been expected on 7 July. However, the Far North District Council said publication had been delayed because Election Services had to check the candidates' eligibility first. In 2022, veteran councillor Ann Court led the race to be Far North mayor in the initial election-night count, but Tepania pulled ahead as special votes were counted. The final result put Tepania on 7805 votes to Court's 7362. Court served as deputy mayor when both Wayne Brown and John Carter were mayors. She told RNZ she would not contest the mayoralty but would seek re-election as a councillor. Former Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen, who now lives in the Far North, has previously stated he wanted to put his hat in the ring. Feyen confirmed to RNZ he would stand for the council but had yet to decide on the mayoralty. He has been a city councillor in Palmerston North and was a candidate for the New Zealand Loyal Party in the 2023 general election. Northland has two other mayoral contests to look forward to, at least one of which will see a changing of the guard. In the Kaipara District, Mayor Craig Jepson said he would seek re-election only as a councillor representing his home town of Mangawhai. He called on his supporters to back deputy mayor Jonathan Larsen as his successor. Jepson made national headlines early in his term by removing karakia from council meetings. His council was also the first in the country to abolish its Māori ward following a law change in 2024. High-profile iwi and business leader Snow Tane has also put his hand up for the Kaipara mayoralty. Currently general manager of Dargaville-based Te Roroa Development Group, Tane's previous career was in supermarket management. In the Whangārei District, sitting mayor Vince Cocurullo confirmed to RNZ he would seek another three-year term. First-term councillor Marie Olsen has also stated she would contest the mayoralty. Earlier this year a Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll found Tepania was the most popular mayor in New Zealand and Jepson the third most popular, despite their diametrically opposing positions. However, the poll had a large margin of error due to the small sample sizes. Tepania had a 39 percent approval rating, with an almost 5 percent margin of error, while Jepson had a 35 percent approval rating with an almost 10 percent margin of error. Nominations for the mayoralty, council and community boards close at noon on 1 August. Candidates will be announced on 8 August. Voting in the postal ballot will take place between 9 September and 11 October, when preliminary results will be announced.
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Scoop
‘Paranoia And Misinformation Spread Faster Than Covid', Inquiry Told
Article – RNZ A lack of clear communication from the government may have contributed to the spread of Covid-19 misinformation in the Mori and Pasifika communities, the Royal Commission of Inquiry has heard. , Journalist A lack of clear communication from the government may have contributed to the spread of Covid-19 misinformation in the Māori and Pasifika communities, the Royal Commission of Inquiry has heard. Community and health leaders for Māori and Pasifika have spoken to the inquiry into the Covid-19 response about their struggles adapting to lockdown regulations. The third day of the week-long hearing took place in Auckland yesterday. This week's hearings are concentrating on the impact of the extended lockdown in Auckland and Northland in 2021, and on vaccine mandates and safety. Communication and information from health authorities during the lockdown was an issue, with community leaders highlighting that the language used when trying to inform their people about Covid and the vaccine was often very technical and difficult to understand. Reverend Victor Pouesi, from the Christian Church of Samoa in Manukau, said this may have contributed to the spread of misinformation, with many fearful of Covid-19 and vaccinations. 'People were looking for alternative sources of information other than the government, and that created a lot of problems. 'Paranoia and misinformation spread faster than Covid itself.' He said their church was able to livestream a broadcast with information from the government and social services to inform their community. Similar issues were faced by the Māori health and social services organisations that spoke to the commissioners. Hector Kawai – a director at Te Whānau o Waipareira, a health and social service provider in West Auckland – said online misinformation hampered vaccination efforts. 'Being on the front line we had a lot of whānau who came to us who were saying: 'Oh I don't want to put that poison in my body', you know? 'They had been seeing stuff which they had got from some quote – unquote Facebook expert,' he said. Raewyn Bhana, deputy director of Whanau ora community clinics, a healthcare provider that focuses on Maori health, said this misinformation often turned into conflict. Speaking to commissioners through an audio link, she talked about the protests at vaccination clinics. 'When we had our community, our pakeke (older adults), our kaumatua (elderly men) and kuia (elderly women) coming through it was quite fearful for them to be vaccinated when you've got protesters outside who were threatening our people who were coming through,' she said. Both parties told the commissioners that Māori-led solutions and initiatives had the best reach within their communities, often because Māori had a deep mistrust of government. Hector Kawai said kaupapa Māori led solutions like those offered by Te Whānau o Waipareira, did well to connect with Māori during the pandemic, but their work was not always well received. 'When we first came on to be an essential service I felt there was a certain amount of institutional racism, because of this you know 'oh there's just a bunch of Māoris out in the community' and the only ones who should be delivering out vaccinations and services should be doctors and nurses, but in fact we can do these sorts of things,' he said. 'People took your loved ones away' The difficulty Pasifika families faced around funerals during lockdowns was also highlighted yesterday. Penina Ifopo – a Samoan community leader in Manurewa – said his people struggled with government restrictions that limited how many people could attend funerals and how they were conducted. 'People took your loved ones away, put them in a house you had no idea of, they're alone in there. 'We have a spiritual connection with our loved ones and then you see the hearse taking them to be buried … it was very traumatising,' she said tearfully. 'We don't do counselling when it comes to funerals, the therapy is within us, it's our togetherness, it's both our Christian values together with our Samoan values.' Ifopo spoke of other difficulties faced in her community, particularly for households with families. She said many parents were not prepared and did not have the adequate tools for their children to do online learning. 'A lot of families were just living on data, there's no wifi at home,' she said. 'And also, you're lucky if there's a laptop, you'll find phones in every single home but no wifi and then parents just don't know what to do because they were having to be the teachers at the time.' Lack of hospitality from customers Meanwhile, a person working in the hospitality industry at the time of the lockdowns told the inquiry into the Covid response that she dealt with intimidating behaviour from customers. Jodie Rameka told the inquiry she felt like she was being blamed for customers needing to wear masks in her shop. 'Even having to ask them if they had a pass if they came in without a face mask, and just the reactions from a lot of the customers were very scary.' Rameka said she tried to sympathize with her customers. 'If I'm being honest, I rather them take it out on me than go and take it out on someone else,' she said. 'So I just took it.' Rameka said she changed her whole career because of the pandemic. Today the inquiry will focus on vaccine safety and will hear from advocacy groups.
