The Health Select Committee will reconvene next week as National and New Zealand First call for scrutiny over the Government's COVID-19 response.
Health Select Committee chair Louisa Wall told Newshub she is "happy to reconvene" the committee next Wednesday, and will invite Health Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield to appear.
"I have always considered this was a matter for the committee to decide. However, there wasn't previously a majority who wanted the select committee to resume," Wall, a Labour MP, added.
National's health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti has written to Wall twice now to request the committee convene and call on the Director-General of Health and Health Minister to appear.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced that his caucus agreed, and believed it was "logical" for the committee to meet to "canvass the advice" of the Director-General of Health pertaining to Monday's lockdown extension.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday reconvening the Health Select Committee was not something that was ever raised with her when she consulted with political party leaders ahead of delaying the election date.
Hipkins said he and the Director-General have been "widely available" for media interviews and have been keeping the public up-to-date with almost daily press briefings.
