New Zealand Accepts COVID Inquiry Recommendations with Caveats

New Zealand's government has accepted many of the recommendations made by the COVID inquiry, including publishing major decisions affecting individual rights within five working days.

The government accepted 21 recommendations in full and 36 'in principle' with modifications. Health Minister Simeon Brown said New Zealanders placed enormous trust in their government during the pandemic, making substantial sacrifices.

Brown argued that future emergency economic assistance should be timely, temporary, and targeted, unlike the previous response which left restrictions in place too long and involved spending 'tens of billions of dollars across hundreds of programmes with little to show for it.'