H202100444 transfer.pdf

133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000

Nigel Gray

By email:  [FYI request #14538 email]
Ref:
H202100444

Dear Nigel Gray

Transfer of your request for official information

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) transferred to the
Ministry of Health (the Ministry) 26 January 2021 for:

“1. What due diligence was taken to investigate Pfizer's ethics as a company?
2. Given that Pfizer has successfully been indicted and fined for fraud in the past, what
changes to the management of the company were made that reassured you that Pfizer
was no longer fraudulent?
3. Were you concerned that Pfizer were so wealthy that any damages caused by their
product could simply be seen by the company as a "cost" against their eventual profit and
so written off as just "part of the overall cost" for the company? If you were not concerned
about this, please explain why not?
4. Please give me a list of the names and positions of those government Ministers and
staff who were part of this approval process that enabled Pfizer to gain the contract for
providing NZ with Coronavirus or COVID-19 vaccines.
5. Can you please state the reasons as to why NZ Government indemnified Pfizer against
damages?
6. What method wil  NZ government use to deal with harm caused by Pfizer Coronavirus
or COVID-19 vaccines to New Zealanders ie. death, permanent disabilities or temporary
disabilities?
7. Wil  ACC be used to pay for damages relating to the above named vaccines?”

The Ministry does not hold any information relating to your request; however, I have been
advised that this information is more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry for
Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).  For this reason, I have decided to transfer your
request to MBIE under section 14 of the Act. You can expect a response from MBIE in due
course.

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision
to transfer your request.

Yours sincerely

Nick Allan
Manager OIA Services
Office of the Director-General

Copy of OIA request

Giles Bollinger <Giles.Bol [email address]>
Wed 27/01/2021 14:09
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To:
[FYI request #14538 email]
Kia ora

On behalf of Hon Andrew Little, Minister of Health, thank you for your Official Information request of 26
January 2021:

"1. What due diligence was taken to investigate Pfizer's ethics as a company?
2. Given that Pfizer has successfully been indicted and fined for fraud in the past, what changes to the
management of the company were made that reassured you that Pfizer was no longer fraudulent?
3. Were you concerned that Pfizer were so wealthy that any damages caused by their product could
simply be seen by the company as a "cost" against their eventual profit and so written off as just "part of
the overall cost" for the company? If you were not concerned about this, please explain why not?
4. Please give me a list of the names and positions of those government Ministers and staff who were
part of this approval process that enabled Pfizer to gain the contract for providing NZ with Coronavirus
or COVID-19 vaccines.
5. Can you please state the reasons as to why NZ Government indemnified Pfizer against damages?
6. What method wil NZ government use to deal with harm caused by Pfizer Coronavirus or COVID-19
vaccines to New Zealanders ie. death, permanent disabilities or temporary disabilities?
7. Wil ACC be used to pay for damages relating to the above named vaccines?".

The information requested appears to be more closely associated with the functions and responsibilities
of the Ministry of Health. Accordingly I am transferring your request to the Ministry of Health under
section 14(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982.

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review this decision to
transfer your request for information.

Ngā mihi nui

Giles Bollinger
Private Secretary (Health) to Hon Andrew Little MP
DDI +64 4 817 9727 | Mobile +64 21 348 067 |Email giles.bol [email address]

Office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Health, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister
Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email [Andrew Little request email] | Web beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost
Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wel ington 6160, New Zealand
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andrew-little
Reply
Forward
-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Gray [mailto:[FYI request #14538 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 26 January 2021 6:34 PM
To: A Little Office (MIN) <[Andrew Little request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - What due diligence has been taken to ensure Pfizer not
fraudulent.

Dear Andrew Little,
Through various media we have been told that Pfizer is the company providing Coronavirus or COVID-19
vaccines to New Zealand. It is also clear this company has a history of fraud and has paid bil ions in
damages for past products. NZ government has just made a media release that they have indemnified
Pfizer against any damages caused by said Coronavirus or COVID-19 vaccines.
Can you please tell me
1. What due diligence was taken to investigate Pfizer's ethics as a company?
2. Given that Pfizer has successful y been indicted and fined for fraud in the past, what changes to the
management of the company were made that reassured you that Pfizer was no longer fraudulent?
3. Were you concerned that Pfizer were so wealthy that any damages caused by their product could
simply be seen by the company as a "cost" against their eventual profit and so written off as just "part of
the overal cost" for the company? If you were not concerned about this, please explain why not?
4. Please give me a list of the names and positions of those government Ministers and staff who were
part of this approval process that enabled Pfizer to gain the contract for providing NZ with Coronavirus
or COVID-19 vaccines.
5. Can you please state the reasons as to why NZ Government indemnified Pfizer against damages?
6. What method will NZ government use to deal with harm caused by Pfizer Coronavirus or COVID-19
vaccines to New Zealanders ie. death, permanent disabilities or temporary disabilities?
7. Will ACC be used to pay for damages relating to the above named vaccines?

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray
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