The Covid Inquiry: Terms of Reference (ToR)
Tell the government what should be included in the Inquiry
Introduction
The public have been invited to
share their story (their pandemic experiences) with the Covid 19 Inquiry.
give feedback to the government on what they think should be included in the inquiry, i.e. in the terms of reference (ToR).
These are two separate submissions.
This article focuses on the ToR submission.
A. Terms of Reference (ToR)
The ToR include, among other things, what topics the commission should cover, the names of the commissioners, and when the final report is due. The terms are set by the government.
As the current coalition government is wanting to expand on the limited range of topics set by the previous government, the current government has asked the Royal Commission to consult with the public, on its behalf, on a range of topics that could be included.
As the Department of Internal Affairs (DoIA) advises the government, the information gathered from the submissions will be forwarded to them. They analyze it and then give it to the Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Brooke van Velden.
The Inquiry may also review the submissions received.
B. How to make a ToR Submission.
We will click through the pages and include some screenshots so you get an idea of what to expect.
Click here to go to an introductory page for both submissions.
Here is a screenshot of its header.
If you click on Feedback on our Terms of Reference in the header, it jumps down the page to the following text and more information.
Hearing from you about expanding the COVID-19 Inquiry’s terms of reference
The Government is committed to expanding the scope of the terms of reference for the Royal Commission of Inquiry COVID-19 Lessons Learned ...and has asked the Inquiry to consult with the public, on its behalf, as to what that might look like..." (bold mine)
While the Inquiry is looking at a wide range of topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as mandates and other public health measures, there may be specific topics that people would like considered and which could be included, or clarified, in the terms of reference. The Government has proposed a range of topics and would like your feedback on their inclusion.(bold mine)
If you scroll down the same page a little further, it takes you to this box.
If you click in the box on Feedback on the terms of reference, it takes you to the ToR portal page. Here is the direct link and directly below is a screenshot of it.
If you click in the box on Give your feedback, it takes you to more supporting information. Here is the direct link to the Supporting Information page. (P.S. Why don't they have a portal page introducing both submissions, then one supporting page containing all the relevant information for each that links to its associated submission form. That would be so much more organized, less time-consuming, easier to follow, and create less confusion etc. Instead, there are bits and pieces here and there.)
If you scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Continue, you are at long last taken to the ToR Submission Form. Directly below is a screenshot of the actual feedback form.
Note: Submission Limit: 3,500 characters.
7. Here is the text from the online form.
‘Do you have specific feedback on the inclusion of these topics?
Use of multiple lockdowns
Vaccine procurement and efficacy
The social and economic impacts on both regional and national levels
Whether the decisions made, and steps taken, were justified
The cost-effectiveness of the Government's policies, and whether the rules set by the Government appropriately balanced COVID-19 elimination with other goals
The Government's utilisation of partnerships with business and professional groups
The extent of disruption to New Zealanders' health, education, and business as a result of the Government's policies
If the Government's response was consistent with the rule of law
How New Zealand's pandemic preparedness compared to other countries’
C. Thoughts on the expanded but broad topics?
The ToR submission form asks only for specific feedback on a list of provided topics, whereas words taken from previous pages indicated we would have much more say, for instance, “...there may be specific topics that people would like considered and which could be included, or clarified, in the terms of reference” and “If you have views on what an expanded terms of reference for the Inquiry might include, the Government would like to hear them.”
Fortunately, the terms listed are fairly broad and that taken together with statements from the previous pages all indicate there is significant room for expressing our views on topics specifically not listed, such as vaccine safety.
In this RCR interview (at approx 17/18 minutes), Shane Jones (NZ First) said, in reference to the expanded ToR, the first stage is for people to provide feedback and engage in the consultation as to what the final terms of reference should be. He said Kiwis deserve an opportunity to influence the final shape and form of the criterion in terms of going forward. He added, look at the words used and whether or not illness, people dying are adequately covered off. If the criterion lack specificity or is a bit ambiguous, they are asking for our feedback.
In my next article, I illustrate ways in which we can cover topics not specifically listed, but still fall within the framework of the expanded terms.
Meet the Commissioners of the Covid Inquiry
Meet Professor Tony Blakely and John Whitehead here on the Covid Inquiry site.
Those in the freedom movement believe the current two commissioners are NOT suitable for the job. Past actions or positions prove they are NOT impartial and need to be REMOVED. Commissioners should be impartial.
Read about them here.
Tony Blakely featured regularly in Australia’s mainstream media throughout the pandemic. This included writing a recurrent opinion piece in the Melbourne Age newspaper, promoting virus elimination, lockdown measures and mask and vaccine mandates.
Also, you can listen to Tony Blakely in this set of short clips titled Can Prof Tony Blakely be Trusted to run the Royal Commission? Listen here (15 seconds), here (59 seconds), here (43 seconds), and here (51 seconds). He declares he does contract work for Moderna. He says in the next pandemic, they will be able to produce mRNA vaccines a lot quicker. He trivializes Myocarditis, which is always serious. See here.
Tony Blakely is so compromised. How can we trust any inquiry run by this man?
This recent Hatchard Report, Royal Commission of Inquiry Links Itself to Covid Vaccine Promotion
Echoes of Prejudgment: Questioning the Integrity and Objectives of the COVID-19 Inquiry Process
Clearly, there is a suspicion that those organising the Inquiry have already made up their minds what comes next and are just going through the motions without offering a clear idea of the huge issues at stake affecting not just health and the right to life but also social cohesion, employment rights, freedom of expression, the economy, and full disclosure of vital information.
As mentioned in my previous article, Winston Peters is determined to get a full and independent inquiry. He also ruled out the current inquirers as unsuitable for the job.
Additional Information: The Coalition Agreements and the ToR
1. ToR and the National/NZ First Coalition Agreement
The first four points on the ToR submission form are taken from the National/NZ First Coalition agreement. The other five points are additional to that.
From the NZ First Coalition Agreement:
Ensure, as a matter of urgency in establishment and completion, a full scale, wide ranging, independent inquiry conducted publicly with local and international experts, into how the Covid pandemic was handled in New Zealand, including covering:
o Use of multiple lockdowns,
o Vaccine procurement and efficacy,
o The social and economic impacts on both regional and national levels, and
o Whether the decisions made, and steps taken, where justified. (Bold mine)
You can view the agreement here.
2. ToR and the National/Act Coalition Agreement
The National/Act coalition agreement contains a general statement:
Broaden the terms of reference of the Royal Commission into the Covid-19 response, subject to public consultation
You can view the agreement here.
What Next
In the next article, as mentioned earlier, I illustrate how we can cover topics not specifically listed on the ToR submission form but remain within the framework of the expanded terms given.