133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New
Zealand
+64 4 496 2000
7 July 2020
Ryan Potts
By email:
fyi-request-13064-11 [email address]
Ref:
H202004138
Dear Ryan Potts
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 9 June 2020
for:
"Please disclose any advice provided to the Prime Minister and Cabinet regarding
excess deaths from COVID-19? If no such advice has been provided then please
explain why."
Please be advised that the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) is the
central public service of New Zealand, which provides support and advice to the Governor
General, the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.
The Ministry of Health has not provided any advice to the DPMC regarding excess deaths
from COVID-19. Therefore, your request for information is refused under section 18(e) of the
Act as the information requested does not exist.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any decision
made on your request.
Yours sincerely
Jane Kelley
Director
COVID-19 Response