Summarised by Centrist
Dame Jacinda Ardern has confirmed she is willing to give evidence to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into New Zealand’s COVID response.
A spokesperson said the former prime minister, now based in the United States, “has every intention of providing evidence, if asked,” and is in discussions about how best to do so. She agreed to share her previous testimony.
Phase two of the inquiry, initiated by the current coalition Government, is focused on the Labour-led response during 2021 and 2022, including vaccine mandates, extended lockdowns in Auckland and Northland, and the resulting fallout. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden said the inquiry would assess whether the government struck a reasonable balance between public health goals and wider disruption.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who was COVID Response Minister at the time, has provided written answers to the inquiry. However, he questioned the purpose of this second phase, calling it “far more political” than the first. He alleged that the terms of reference were designed to “give maximum airtime” to “conspiracy theorist views” and claimed the Commission was set up to produce a predetermined outcome.
The Commission has held daily public hearings this week in Auckland, with more to follow in Wellington in August. Witnesses have included individuals and organisations impacted by pandemic policies.
Businessman Sir Ian Taylor also weighed in with a public letter to Ardern, accusing her of shifting from public service to personal branding during the pandemic. He said the turning point for him came when Ardern appeared smiling on the cover of New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, while he received emails from people unable to see their children under lockdown restrictions.
