The Waitangi Tribunal has heard the government's design of the Covid vaccine rollout left Māori on the back foot from the start.

The Tribunal granted a special hearing into the Government's handling of the pandemic for Māori which started today.

The claimants, the Māori Council and other leaders say the Covid response framework prejudices Māori.

RNZ te manu korihi reporter, Jamie Tahana joins Māni Dunlop with the latest on the hearing.