The Coalition Government is not seeing eye to eye with its continuation of Labour's COVID-19 Royal Commission Inquiry.
New Zealand First has invoked its "agree to disagree" provisions in its coalition cause with National over the inquiry. It means the Government's inquiry will go ahead, however, NZ First is publicly stating it disagrees with elements of it.
NZ First invoked the "agree to disagree" provision during its previous coalition with Labour over increasing tobacco excise and maintaining COVID Alert Level 2 settings outside Auckland.
On Tuesday two press releases were sent out at the same time - one from NZ First and the other from Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden.
The Minister announced a second phase of the Royal Commission which features new commissioners and expanded its terms of reference.
"It will focus on matters of ongoing public concern including vaccine efficacy and safety, the extended lockdowns in Auckland and Northland, and the extent of disruption to New Zealanders’ health, education, and business," van Velden said.
NZ First supports the second phase of the inquiry but its issue lies with the first phase, which was set up by the previous Labour Government in December 2022.
The first phase looks at the health and economic response to the pandemic in New Zealand and what could be learned from it to improve future pandemic responses.
It was criticised by the right-bloc for being too narrow and both of National's coalition agreements with ACT and NZ First include a broader inquiry into the COVID-19 response.
"We believe that 'phase one' of the Royal Commission is simply a continuation of the current inquiry, which is far too narrow in scope and remains compromised by the current Chair's direct involvement with the previous government's administration and direct planning of the COVID pandemic response," NZ First said on Tuesday.
NZ First believes the public perception of bias in the current Chair represents a "reputational risk" for 'phase one' of the inquiry and wants an independent report.
"New Zealand First campaigned on the fact that the current Royal Commission was nothing more than a Labour Party political tool, being used to craft a message through its lack of scope and lack of suitability of the commissioners," the Party said.
"New Zealand must have an independent and robust 'lessons learned’ report that can be used for any future pandemic response for our country."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters on Tuesday that the 'Agree to Disagree' provisions are important in a Coalition Government.
"I think what you are seeing is a mature, responsible and well-functioning Coalition Government," Luxon said.
"We don't agree on everything, we have clear processes when we don't. We are united on phase two."
Van Velden said a report on the first phase will be delivered in November and then the current commissioners, Professor Tony Blakely and John Whitehead, will resign.
She said more than 13,000 submissions were received from the public and the second phase will begin from November. The Commissioner will deliver the final report in February 2026.
