Hi Ben,

I would like to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act
request.

We will respond to your request as soon as possible, and no later than 20
working days from receipt.

Best wishes,

Louise

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Louise Winspear | Communications
New Zealand Productivity Commission | Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa
M +64 21 511 140 | P +64 4 903 5160 | [1]www.productivity.govt.nz

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also be legally privileged.
If you are not an intended addressee please immediately delete this email
and notify the Commission by return email or telephone (64 4 903 5150).
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-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Smith <[FOI #14828 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 3 March 2021 3:18 PM
To: Info Productivity <[New Zealand Productivity Commission request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Analysis on returning the border
to normal

Dear New Zealand Productivity Commission,

The Commissioner gave a speech at the NZ Economic Forum on 3 March 2021
entitled "Challenges to, and opportunities for, improving productivity in
a post-Covid world". In that speech, the Commissioner made the claim that
the border would not return to pre-covid normal because this would
evaluate poorly on well-being.

Could you please provide a complete set of records and data that the
Commissioner has or used to come to this conclusion? It seems this would
relate to one or more well-being metrics in the Living Standards Framework
and I am interested in understanding exactly how the commissioner came to
that conclusion, including the specific well-being metrics that were used.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Smith

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

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11 March 2021

Ben Smith

[1][FOI #14828 email]

 

[received from and replied to:
[2][FOI #14828 email]]

 

Official information request: ‘Analysis on returning the border to normal’

Thank you for your 3 March 2021 email request for information under the
Official Information Act 1982. You requested the following:

“Dear New Zealand Productivity Commission, The Commissioner gave a speech
at the NZ Economic Forum on 3 March 2021 entitled "Challenges to, and
opportunities for, improving productivity in a post-Covid world". In that
speech, the Commissioner made the claim that the border would not return
to pre-covid normal because this would evaluate poorly on well-being.
Could you please provide a complete set of records and data that the
Commissioner has or used to come to this conclusion? It seems this would
relate to one or more well-being metrics in the Living Standards Framework
and I am interested in understanding exactly how the commissioner came to
that conclusion, including the specific well-being metrics that were
used.”

Response from the New Zealand Productivity Commission (dated 11 March
2021):

The Commission confirms that its Chair, Dr Ganesh Nana, presented at the
2021 New Zealand Economics Forum on Wednesday 3 March 2021. The
presentation was entitled ‘Challenges to, and opportunities for, improving
productivity in a post-Covid world’.

The Commission holds no information (described in your request as “records
and data”) related to your request. It is the Commission’s view that the
Chair’s presentation to the Forum on 3 March 2021 did not specifically
address the claim “that the border would not return to pre-covid normal
because this would evaluate poorly on well-being.” During the question &
answer part of his presentation the Chair noted that “… the Commission has
no view on whether we should open the borders or not. And that’s not me
sitting on the fence. Its not a conversation for me to have. I have no
expertise in epidemics and vaccines…” This exchange is covered in the
transcript at the following link to our website - [3]see transcript

Further information on the Chair’s presentation can be found at the
following links to the Commission’s website: ‘[4]presentation slides’;
‘[5]recording of the Chair’s presentation’; and, ‘[6]written transcript of
the presentation and Q&A’.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman
regarding the Commission’s response. Information about how to make a
complaint is available at [7]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800
802 602. If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to
contact me at the details below.

 

Yours sincerely

Daiman Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Daiman Smith | General Manager
New Zealand Productivity Commission | Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa
M +64 29 777 0502 | P +64 4 903 5151 | [8]www.productivity.govt.nz

[CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information in this email is confidential to
the Productivity Commission, intended only for the addressee(s), and may
also be legally privileged.
If you are not an intended addressee please immediately delete this email
and notify the Commission by return email or telephone (64 4 903 5150).
Any use, dissemination or copying of this email is strictly prohibited and
may be unlawful.]

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References

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2. mailto:[FOI #14828 email]
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8. http://www.productivity.govt.nz/
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