Commissioners also say the vaccine requirements eroded public trust and call for investment to plan for the next pandemic

Summary

New Zealand’s royal commission into its Covid-19 response found vaccine mandates were reasonable based on available data but acknowledged they harmed social cohesion.

The report praised the country’s elimination strategy for achieving one of the lowest Covid death rates among developed nations while preventing healthcare system collapse.

However, it criticized prolonged lockdowns, weak health system preparedness, and a lack of planning for future crises.

Commissioners urged broad investment in pandemic readiness and emphasized the importance of both frontline and planning staff.

A second phase of the inquiry will review vaccine harms and conclude in 2026.

  • Flying Squid
    27•6 hours ago

    Having said that, the mandates that the government pursued were absolutely ruthless

    Good.

    and put in place at a time where efficacy was already reduced due to new variants.

    “Reduced” is not the same as “safe.”

    It did a lot of harm to society, and we still live with those consequences today.

    Like what? What horrible burden are you living with in New Zealand because of this?