Ryan Potts
By email:
[FYI request #12777 email]
Ref:
CHOIA650
Dear Mr Potts
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request of 5 May 2020 under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
for:
“When was your office first briefed about modelling of the potential
impacts of COVID-19 in New Zealand?”
I am advised that the former Minister of Health, Hon Dr David Clark had regular discussions
with a number of officials regarding COVID-19, which will likely have included discussions
about the potential impacts of the virus in New Zealand. It is not possible to identify when
these discussions first included modelling.
A search was undertaken to determine when the office of the former Minister of Health was
first formally briefed on modelling of the potential impacts of COVID-19 in New Zealand. The
earliest date that has been identified is 11 March 2020.
I am unable to confirm whether 11 March 2020 was the first time the former Minister of Health
was briefed on the draft modelling.
I trust this information fulfils your request. Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to
ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made in this response.
Yours sincerely
Chris Hipkins
Minister of Health