The news this week is that this is the month in which the Covid inquiry people will be wanting to hear from us.

Epidemiologist Tony Blakely, a Kiwi living in Melbourne, was appointed to lead the investigation

The key, sadly, is the terms of engagement. This is how Governments get around things

You announce an inquiry and this immediately gets trouble off your back, because whatever the drama of the day is the next time the question arises you can say "we will leave that to the inquiry".

If the inquiry result is bad news you release it on a Friday and hope no one notices, or if worse comes to worst, you say you accept the findings and recommendation

This inquiry needed to happen given a lot of countries are having one and because there was tremendous upset and a huge array of question marks around how the pandemic was handled

So far they’ve talked to a few at the coalface. Now it is time for the public submissions.

Which means the next part is the disappointment.

Whatever it says won't change anything and I think that, ultimately, is the great Covid lesson. You got what you got based on who was running the place, not because there was a playbook.

If you want a good reference Britain is having their inquiry this week and one of this week's highlights has been Dominic Cummings.

Dominic hates Boris Johnson. Dominic once liked Boris and worked for him, but when that changed Dominic has spent quite a lot of time and, certainly quite a lot more energy, crapping all over the Tories in a campaign of some real intensity.

Part of that has played out for the cameras this week. The point being is it has less to do with Covid and more to do with politics. Dominic wants Boris to look bad.

Ours will be no different.

That's because, and this is the second part of the lesson, Covid is not only about who happens to be running the place but their response will almost certainly be politically motivated, not health related.

They told us ours was health based. But the overlay was the Jacinda Ardern view of the world, the control freak-like approach to bossing everyone around and making astonishing amounts of rules based on not a lot.

If you're an anti-vaxxer, an anti-mandater, an anti-MIQ'er then I wouldn’t bother. They say they want to hear from you, but they don’t.

It ultimately will be a door-stop report with lots of anecdotes, a lot of praise for the difficult days and a suggestion we did amazingly.

But as for light, clarity, lessons and change?

Forget it.

The news this week is that this is the month in which the Covid inquiry people will be wanting to hear from us. 
Epidemiologist Tony Blakely, a Kiwi living in Melbourne, was appointed to lead the investigation 
The key, sadly, is the terms of engagement. This is how Governments get around things 
You announce an inquiry and this immediately gets trouble off your back, because whatever the drama of the day is the next time the question arises you can say "we will leave that to the inquiry". 
If the inquiry result is bad news you release it on a Friday and hope no one notices, or if worse comes to worst, you say you accept the findings and recommendation 
This inquiry needed to happen given a lot of countries are having one and because there was tremendous upset and a huge array of question marks around how the pandemic was handled 
So far they’ve talked to a few at the coalface. Now it is time for the public submissions. 
Which means the next part is the disappointment. 
Whatever it says won't change anything and I think that, ultimately, is the great Covid lesson. You got what you got based on who was running the place, not because there was a playbook. 
If you want a good reference Britain is having their inquiry this week and one of this week's highlights has been Dominic Cummings. 
Dominic hates Boris Johnson. Dominic once liked Boris and worked for him, but when that changed Dominic has spent quite a lot of time and, certainly quite a lot more energy, crapping all over the Tories in a campaign of some real intensity. 
Part of that has played out for the cameras this week. The point being is it has less to do with Covid and more to do with politics. Dominic wants Boris to look bad. 
Ours will be no different. 
That's because, and this is the second part of the lesson, Covid is not only about who happens to be running the place but their response will almost certainly be politically motivated, not health related. 
They told us ours was health based. But the overlay was the Jacinda Ardern view of the world, the control freak-like approach to bossing everyone around and making astonishing amounts of rules based on not a lot. 
If you're an anti-vaxxer, an anti-mandater, an anti-MIQ'er then I wouldn’t bother. They say they want to hear from you, but they don’t. 
It ultimately will be a door-stop report with lots of anecdotes, a lot of praise for the difficult days and a suggestion we did amazingly. 
But as for light, clarity, lessons and change? 
Forget it.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.

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The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more.

The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...