COVID-19 outbreak response stress test

Harold made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health

The request was successful.

From: Harold

Dear Ministry of Health,

This is a request for documents relating to a stress test of the Ministry of Health's response to a potential COVID-19 outbreak that was due to be conducted earlier this year.

A December update on progress implementing the Simpson/Roche contact tracing review notes that:

"Planning for a full stress test is complete, but the rollout has been paused while teams have been dealing with the small outbreaks in November. The full stress test is planned for early in 2021..."

I request a copy of the debriefing/evaluation of this stress test, including a copy of all resulting recommendations.

The Ministry's action plan for implementing the Simpson/Roche report also notes that:

"...development of expanded scenario-based exercises is scheduled for early 2021."

I request copies of the debriefings/evaluations of any scenario-based response exercises conducted by the Ministry, and their resulting recommendations, since the beginning of this year.

Yours faithfully,

Harold

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Kia ora

 

Thank you for your request for official information received on 21 MAY
2021 for:

 

" documents relating to a stress test of the Ministry of Health's response
to a potential COVID-19 outbreak that was due to be conducted earlier this
year.
A December update on progress implementing the Simpson/Roche contact
tracing review notes that:
"Planning for a full stress test is complete, but the rollout has been
paused while teams have been dealing with the small outbreaks in November.
The full stress test is planned for early in 2021..."
I request a copy of the debriefing/evaluation of this stress test,
including a copy of all resulting recommendations.
The Ministry's action plan for implementing the Simpson/Roche report also
notes that:
"...development of expanded scenario-based exercises is scheduled for
early 2021."
I request copies of the debriefings/evaluations of any scenario-based
response exercises conducted by the Ministry, and their resulting
recommendations, since the beginning of this year.”

 

The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202106270.

 

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 21 JUNE 2021, being 20
working days after the day your request was received.  

 

If we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we
will notify you of an extension of that time frame.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

 

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Kia ora Harold,

 

Thank you for your request for official information, received on 21
May 2021 requesting:

 

“Documents relating to a stress test of the Ministry of Health's response
to a potential COVID-19 outbreak that was due to be conducted earlier this
year.
A December update on progress implementing the Simpson/Roche contact
tracing review notes that:
"Planning for a full stress test is complete, but the rollout has been
paused while teams have been dealing with the small outbreaks in November.
The full stress test is planned for early in 2021..."
I request a copy of the debriefing/evaluation of this stress test,
including a copy of all resulting recommendations.
The Ministry's action plan for implementing the Simpson/Roche report also
notes that:
"...development of expanded scenario-based exercises is scheduled for
early 2021."
I request copies of the debriefings/evaluations of any scenario-based
response exercises conducted by the Ministry, and their resulting
recommendations, since the beginning of this year.”

 

The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) as further consultation is required.

 

You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 3 August
2021.

 

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.

 

Ngâ mihi 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

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From: Harold

Dear OIA Services,

This is a very lengthy extension, far beyond the 5 to 10 working days regarded by the Ombudsman as typically sufficient for making consultations.

Can you please provide me some detail as to why such a long extension is necessary? In particular, who the Ministry is consulting with and why the consultations cannot be completed in a normal timeframe.

Yours sincerely,

Harold

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Kia ora Harold,

The Ministry of Health has extended your request as further research, collation and consultation is required. If you are unsatisfied with the Ministry's decision to extend your request, you have the right under section 28(3) of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions under this request.

Ngā mihi

OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]

-----Original Message-----
From: Harold <[FOI #15528 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 22 June 2021 8:20 am
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Extension of time for responding to request (ref: H202106270)

Dear OIA Services,

This is a very lengthy extension, far beyond the 5 to 10 working days regarded by the Ombudsman as typically sufficient for making consultations.

Can you please provide me some detail as to why such a long extension is necessary? In particular, who the Ministry is consulting with and why the consultations cannot be completed in a normal timeframe.

Yours sincerely,

Harold

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Harold,

 

Thank you for your request for official information, received on 21 May 2021 requesting:

 

“Documents relating to a stress test of the Ministry of Health's response to a potential COVID-19 outbreak that was due to be conducted earlier this year.
A December update on progress implementing the Simpson/Roche contact tracing review notes that:
"Planning for a full stress test is complete, but the rollout has been paused while teams have been dealing with the small outbreaks in November.
The full stress test is planned for early in 2021..."
I request a copy of the debriefing/evaluation of this stress test, including a copy of all resulting recommendations.
The Ministry's action plan for implementing the Simpson/Roche report also notes that:
"...development of expanded scenario-based exercises is scheduled for early 2021."
I request copies of the debriefings/evaluations of any scenario-based response exercises conducted by the Ministry, and their resulting recommendations, since the beginning of this year.”

 

The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) as further consultation is required.

 

You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 3 August 2021.

 

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your request.

 

Ngâ mihi 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

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Kia ora Harold,

 

Please find attached the response for your request for official
information.

 

Ngā mihi

 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

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distribute or copy this message or attachments.
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From: Harold

Dear Ministry of Health,

Thank you for this response, but your claim that there were no stress tests or scenario-based response exercises conducted prior to my request on 21 May seems to be contradicted by public documents.

An appendix to the February 2021 Auckland outbreak response review states that:

"Further testing and scenario planning also took place in April 2021, pending the introduction of quarantine free travel with Australia."

Which can be read here (p.48):

https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/reports/I...

Another document produced in response to this review also refers to this April exercise, as well as two other scenario planning workshops that seem like they should have fallen within the scope of my request: A "Pre-Departure Testing" scenario planning workshop conducted in January, and a "Cook Islands QFT" workshop conducted in May.

This can be read here:

https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/reports/I...

Can you please advise me why these weren't included in your response?

Yours sincerely,

Harold

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Kia ora Harold,

 

Please find attached a letter relating to your official information act
request.

Please note the Ministry of Health is still considering the information
you have requested in Question 1. We endeavour to provide you with a
response to this part of your request in due course.

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

 

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Kia ora Harold,

 

Thank you for your follow up request for official information, received on
26 July 2021 requesting:

 

“1. An April stress test relating to trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel.
This is referred to on page 48 of this document: "Further testing and
scenario planning also took place in April 2021, pending the introduction
of quarantine free travel with Australia."
2. A "scenario planning workshop" relating to pre-departure testing
conducted in January.
3. Another workshop related to Cook Islands quarantine-free travel
conducted in May.”

 

We note part 2 and 3 of your request has been partially transferred to the
Department of the Prime Ministers and Cabinet (DPMC) . You may expect a
response from them in due course.

 

The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to part 1 of your request under section 15A of the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) as further collation and consultation is
required.

 

You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 28 September
2021.

 

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.

 

Ngâ mihi 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

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Kia ora Harold,

 

Please find attached a letter relating to your official information act
request.

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

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[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora koe,

 

Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E    [1][email address]
 
[2]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0
 
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the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
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[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora koe,

 

Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E    [1][email address]
 
[2]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0
 
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
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in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

 

 

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Information [DPMC] would like to recall the message, "Your Official Information Act Request - A Response".
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[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Dear Harold,

 

On behalf of Cheryl Barnes, Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s COVID-19 Group, please find attached the
response to your official information request of 12 August 2021.

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

Tom Turnbull

Ministerial Advisor, Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

 

 

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