Chris Hipkins and Jacinda Ardern refuse to be questioned publicly before Royal Commission!

Media Release 17 August 2025

Right to Life requests that the Royal Commission subpoena Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins and other previous government members, who have refused to appear to answer questions from the Royal Commission at a public hearing in August.

Christopher Hipkins had previously lost the trust of the community to be our Prime Minister, for those who refuse to protect the unborn should not be trusted to govern the born. He supports the killing of the unborn up to birth effectively for any reason. He voted for the extremist Abortion Legislation 2020.

Right to Life fully supports the Royal Commission of Enquiry into Covid 19. The primary purpose of this enquiry is to review decisions by government in 2020/21. The decisions were made by the Labour government led by Prime Minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern. Dame Jacinda proclaimed in 2017 that she “would lead the most open, honest and transparent government in the history of New Zealand”. Why then is she and other members of her previous government, refusing the request of the Royal Commission, instituted by her government, to appear at a public hearing to answer questions?

New Zealanders have not forgotten that just five years ago we were subjected to the most severe 'lockdowns' in the Western world. There were many who suffered the loss of their employment because they refused to receive the experimental mRNA gene therapy. The Ardern government spent an unprecedented $66 billion in funding their decisions in addressing the pandemic, this is a colossal debt to impose on the community.

These former ministers were at the heart of decisions that affected hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, cost livelihoods, careers, businesses, connection with families, and had a disastrous effect on the economy and future of our country. There were many who were seriously injured as a consequence of the vaccine – why do they refuse to be held to account at a public hearing of the Royal Commission of inquiry?

Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins claim that they have answered questions from the Royal Commission in private interviews, at the first session of the Royal Commission. This is not the accountability that Dame Jacinda promised our nation in 2017. Accountability relies on transparency. Chris Hipkins is now demanding that his evidence be only given in secret hearings, this isn't being accountable or transparent.

Right to Life passionately believes that to maintain a credible Parliamentary democracy that it is imperative that our government merit the trust of the community. To maintain public confidence, our elected leaders must be seen to justify their decisions in public.

Right to Life believes that the Right Honourable Christopher Hipkins is refusing to be questioned at a public hearing, because he fears that decisions made by the Ardern Labour government and implemented by him as Minister for Covid 19 Response could adversely affect his campaign to be re-elected as Prime Minister at the general election in 2026.

On Wednesday 13th August 2025, the Royal commission of Inquiry, in response to the refusal of Dame Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins and other government members to answer questions at a public hearing, cancelled the public hearing. New Zealanders should be appalled that their elected leaders refuse to be questioned in public. If we do not learn from history the mistakes made by government in dealing with the recent pandemic that will be repeated again and inflicted on future generations.

Ken Orr,

Spokesperson,

Right to Life New Zealand Inc.