The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons have been received, with over 13,000 submissions made from members of the public, according to Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden.

The submissions covered a range of issues, including the use of multiple lockdowns, the impact on social wellbeing and mental health, and vaccine efficacy.

Many shared their experiences of the extended lockdowns in Auckland and Northland, which had a disproportionately hard impact on residents.

Others spoke about disruptions to health, education, and business in various regions.

The coalition Government has committed to taking decisions on the scope of the extension to the COVID-19 Inquiry as a priority for this quarter.

Options are being worked through to meet this commitment, as outlined in both the ACT-National and NZ First-National coalition agreements.

Clear decisions are expected to be made before the end of June.

The Inquiry aims to gather evidence to inform future decisions, and the Minister has thanked all New Zealanders who took the time to submit and have their voices heard.

The submissions will play an important role in shaping the Inquiry's scope and ensuring that the right questions are asked to gather the right evidence for the future.