New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
1 June 2021
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
Harold
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #15351 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
OIA 27499
Tēnā koe Harold
I refer to your email of 4 May 2021 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
“…For the second time, I request copies of all analysis of the WHO Covid-19 origins
report, produced by MFAT or on MFAT's behalf.
On April 1st, MFAT told Reuters:
“New Zealand acknowledges that member states have expressed a number of concerns.
New Zealand wants to make sure we conduct an independent analysis to ensure we
understand the science before making any comment”
and:
"Our scientific experts, who have been fully engaged with the wider COVID response, are
analysing the report. When they have done so, we will decide on the most appropriate
way to comment on the mission”
For the avoidance of doubt, this is the analysis I'm referring to. The Ministry of Health
have told me they hold no such documents, so please don't refer me to them again.”
On 28 April 2021, the Ministry responded to your initial request by transferring to the Ministry
of Health. This is because any scientific analysis undertaken on this report would fall within
the duties of the Ministry of Health. However, given your stated preference, we have not
transferred this request. If you are dissatisfied with the response from the Ministry of Health
you can contact the Ombudsman.
The Ministry is currently preparing a response to another OIA request related to COVID-19
which contains information you may be interested in. Consultation on this OIA is ongoing and
the relevant information is still being collated. Therefore, due to the necessity for further
consultation and review, we will need to extend the time limit for responding to you by 30
working days, to 14 July 2021.
If this process is completed and we are able to respond before 14 July 2021, the response will
be sent to you as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address].
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
You also have the right under section 28(3) of the OIA to seek a review of this response by the
Ombudsman.
Nāku noa, nā
Julie-Anne Lee
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade