Submissions open for COVID-19 inquiry

Mon 11 Mar 2024

The Royal Commission of Inquiry is asking for feedback related to the COVID-19 response. Closing date for submissions is 24 March 2024.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned | Te Tira Ārai Urutā is calling for submissions.

Submissions are due by 24 March 2024.

The Commission is asking for feedback on 2 different consultations. They are asking for feedback on experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are 2 questions for this consultation:

Question 1: Looking back – what would you like the Inquiry to know about your experiences of the pandemic?
Question 2: Moving forward – what lessons should we learn from your experiences so we can be as prepared as possible for a future pandemic?

When answering these questions, you can tell the Commission anything you think would be useful.

The Commission is also asking for feedback on expanding the terms of reference for the COVID-19 Inquiry. The Government has proposed a range of topics to expand the terms of reference. This consultation asks one question for feedback on these proposed topics. The online consultation includes a brief summary of the inquiry's current scope and terms of reference.

The information from the Commission is available in different language and different forms. This includes NZSL, easy read, information for children and young people, and other formats.

For questions contact InquiryintoCOVID-19lessons@dia.govt.nz. Find more information on the Royal Commission website. You can also sign up for the Commission's email newsletter for regular updates.

Research related to COVID and gender-based violence

Aotearoa New Zealand research and reports have looked at family violence in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic including:

Shining light on the shadow: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on abuser behaviour (2022) by the Backbone Collective
Submission of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission for the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences: the impact of COVID-19 and the increase of domestic violence against women (2020)
Challenges in responding to family violence during a Pandemic like COVID-19 (2020) by Shakti
Impact of COVID-19 on the health response to family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative study (2023) by Jane Koziol-McLain, Christine Cowley, Shabo Nayar and Diane Koti.

Also see our webinar COVID-19 and family and whānau violence: What have we learnt and where to from here? (2020) and the White Ribbon NZ webinar The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on domestic violence in New Zealand (2020).

Māori led research has documented the successful and powerful ways in which tangata whenua organised and responded to the pandemic. For example, see

Mahi aroha: Māori work in times of trouble and disaster as an expression of a love for the people (2020) by Fiona Cram
Indigenous Māori responses to COVID‐19: He waka eke noa? (2022) by Waikaremoana Waitoki and Andre McLachlan
Mahi Aroha - Aroha ki te tangata, he tāngata (2020) by Fiona Cram
Awhi mai, awhi atu: Giving and receiving support during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown (2021) by Dr Fiona Cram, Sebastian Cram, Morehu Munro and Sarah Tawhai
Research into the COVID-19 response plan for Te Pūtahitanga o te Waipounamu (2020) by Catherine Savage, Kahu McClintock, and Amohia Boulton
Herenga Waka COVID-19 Response and Local Case Study For the Period March 2020 to June 2021 (2022) by the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency.

There has been extensive research internationally on gender-based violence in the context of the pandemic, including intimate partner violence, child abuse and sexual violence. See our library quick topic search on COVID-19. Also see our related news stories below including Updates on research and information on COVID-19 and violence (2022) which highlights world-first research from Australia on what is needed to support family violence workers during times of crisis.

This information builds on decades of international and Aotearoa New Zealand research on gender-based violence in the context of emergencies and disasters. We have previously provided an overview of this research on our website at the start of the pandemic. See our FAQ on Understanding the impacts of COVID-19 and Addressing the impacts of COVID-19.

Covid 'crazy' behaviour led to alleged sex attacks, Star News, 11.10.2023

Study to improve disaster response and recovery for Hauraki Māori in wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, Health Research Council New Zealand, 13.09.2023

Highlighting narratives of an epidemic through the pandemic, Massey News 18.04.2023

Op ed from Denise Wilson: Cyclone Gabrielle: Family violence in cyclone-hit rohe will result in Oranga Tamariki baby uplifts, NZ Herald, 22.03.2023

Image: Martin Sanchez on Unsplash