The Inquiry examined the response to and outcomes of New Zealand's COVID-19 response to identify lessons that can be learned and make recommendations for how the country should prepare for any future pandemic.

The inquiry set out to establish what worked well, what could have been done better and how the choices that were made affected individuals, families, communities and the economy. It examines various aspects of the response, including lockdowns, border measures, health system response, vaccination efforts, and mandatory measures. The resulting report highlights the importance of a coordinated and people-centred approach to pandemic preparedness and response, emphasizing the need for clear communication, strong leadership, and a robust risk management system.

Based on its analysis, the report offers 39 recommendations to strengthen pandemic preparedness. 

Key recommendations

• Establish a central agency function to coordinate all-of-government preparation and response planning for pandemics and other national risks. 
• Strengthen oversight and accountability for pandemic preparedness.
• Develop and practise an all-of-government response plan for a pandemic, covering the national-level response and integrating sector-specific plans.
• Ensure each sector has a pandemic plan and considers what they would need to do to support activity within their sector to keep going safely in a pandemic.
• Assign a minister to lead the response to the recommendations, ensure six-monthly progress reports, and report to Parliament within 12 months of this report being completed.