The move from alert levels (which allowed for widespread lockdowns) to the COVID-19 Protection Framework, saw a reduction in public health measures. In combination with the emergence of the Omicron variant and widespread transmission, risks to disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau have increased. The risks were in relation to contracting COVID-19 (noting that some people in the disability community are at significantly increased risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19), combined with risks related to disruptions in services, exacerbation of inequitable access to health care and essential services, and needing to quickly and easily access bespoke information tailored to the needs of disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau. A whole of government mitigation strategy was needed to immediately respond to these risks. What people have told us during this Inquiry is that these mitigations were not successfully in place. This has caused considerable stress, confusion and put the well-being of disabled people at risk. The purpose of this Inquiry is not to comment on the Government’s move away from the elimination strategy, but to highlight the criticality of putting appropriate mitigations in place to address the increased risks for disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau. And most importantly, to have their voices central to the ongoing response to COVID-19. Paula Tesoriero MNZM, Disability Rights Commissioner 4 Inquiry into the Support of Disabled People and Whānau During Omicron