133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
26 July 2021
Harold
By email:    [FYI request #15528 email]
Ref:
H202106270
Tēnā koe Harold
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 21 May 2021.
You requested:
“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. I request a copy of the
debriefing/evaluation of this stress test, including a copy of all resulting recommendations.
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.”
Please note at the time of your request on 21 May 2021, there were no documents within scope
as the stress tests had not begun. The Ministry of Health (the Ministry) made the decision to
extend the amount of time to respond to your request. This time allowed the Ministry to
research, collate and consult on the following documents that we have identified to be within
scope of your request. These documents are itemised in Appendix 1 and outlines the grounds
under which I have decided to withhold information. Where information is withheld, this is noted
in the document itself. These include two Ministry scenario-based response exercises and the
Southern region outcomes from the exercises run at the beginning of June 2021. Additional
exercises are planned for further district health board locations in the coming weeks and the
resulting recommendation documents have not yet been finalised. Therefore, this part of your
request is refused under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act as they remain under active consideration.
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Chris Scahill
Group Manager COVID-19 Response
COVID-19 Response

Appendix 1: List of documents for release

#
Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
21 June 2021   Exercise Horapa - Hamilton
Released with some information
Summary
withheld under section 9(2)(g)(i) of
the Act to maintain the ef ective
conduct of public affairs through the
free and frank expression of
opinions by or between or to
Ministers and officers and
employees of any public service
agency.
2
22 June 2021   COVID Preparedness – Southern  Released in full.
DHB V1
3
20 June 2021   Exercise Horapa v1.0
Released in full.

Page 2 of 2

Document 1
Exercise Horapa (Widespread)
• Currently the PHU are at Day 36 post the security incident that has crippled the IT network
• The DHB have now moved into recovery mode. They report that the majority of the COVID
Systems are back up and working albeit not integrated to Health systems / functions.
• They have recently set up CAPS – COVID Advisory Preparation Support team to look at scenario,
resurgence, planning for future outbreaks.
• Hamilton have 3 MIF within their jurisdiction and 2 in Rotorua
s 9(2)(g)(i)
1982
Act
INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
RELEASED

Document 1
s 9(2)(g)(i)
1982
Act
INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
THE
Wrap Up – thoughts on the day
• Standardisation across the PHU network in response to outbreaks
• Leadership – is keyUNDER
• Flexibility of the lens on an outbreak
• Didn’t see Police as being a good resource
• The PHU’s know their people in the regions and what works and what doesn’t
• They are not testing scenarios (offer to provide them with scenarios, for running with support
agencies and led by MOH IMT if it helps)
o Would like to have one or two Pacifika scenarios
RELEASED
o Seasonal Workers
• Great to have the team come up and visit face to face
• Community groups are asking for literature /talks on the response to COVID
o Vaccinations
• Communications – greater co-ordination with MOH Wellington
• Felt the day was worthwhile – we have a lot in common
o Greater focus on the commonalities not the differences across the various regions

Document 1
• The question was posed what we look like in the new Health System in the response to COVID –
not answered today
• Information relevant to the Regional PHU – how do we assess risk
o Ran through the PHRA document – team could see immense value in this being shared
and utilised
• Getting together around the table has been invaluable
• Dedicated MIF facilities
o Hotels are not fit for purpose
1982
Actions out of the day:
1. What is happening with compensation in an outbreak (MOH team)
Act
2. What have MSD been doing to respond in an outbreak to compensation needs (MOH team)
1&2. Response
• Short Term Absence Payment - $350 for staying at home; Leave Support Scheme $1200 for
quarantine/isolation
• https:/ www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/short-term-absence-
payment/index.html
• https:/ www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/leave-support-scheme/index.html
3. Have the Welfare pathways been developed (MOH Team)INFORMATION
a. If so can they be shared
3.Respnse
Fol owing up on this
4. Question: has a review of the Ethics been completed in relation to asking people to continue
with the vaccination programme
OFFICIAL
4.Respnse
Fol owing up on this
5. Has a decision been made around wheth
THE er or not if someone is vaccinated is their risk profile
lower?
5.Response
Currently an active question from ODPH and NITC. Once we have an answer and interrogation,
we will communicate with PHUs
UNDER
6. Provide the blank PHRA for the team to incorporate into their tool kit
6.Response: Attached to this email
RELEASED

Document 2
1982
COVID
Act
Preparedness
–
Southern
INFORMATION
Region
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
RELEASED

Document 2
• Southern DHB is based in Dunedin, and covers the bottom of the
South Island, including Fiordland, Queenstown, Oamaru and
Invercargill.
• It has a population of 344,900 people
1982 (2020/21 projection).
• There are multiple locations for peop
Act  le to get a test, and the
Southern DHB have set up a 0800 VIRUS19 line that people can
call to find out where to get a test in the region.   Public
Messaging: “To arrange a test in the Southern district, please call
About
your GP or the WellSouth Cal  Centre on 0800 VIRUS19 (0800 847
8719)
Southern
INFORMATION
• Queenstown is the southern most International airport in New
Zealand – with approx. 4 flights a day as part of Quarantine Free
Travel
DHB
OFFICIAL
• This will be increased to up to 14 flights a day from July 1
THE
• NZ Winter School holidays run from 9-24 July 2021
• Australia Winter School holidays run from 28 June to 19 July
UNDER  2021
• Southern DHB have managed positive cases before :
• The Bluff Wedding
RELEASED
• The Hereford Conference

Document 2
Observations:
1982
• Low Threshold
Act
• High Sensitivity
Observations
• Rapid Tests
and Issues
• Waste-water testing
INFORMATION
• High level of arrival screening
Raised
OFFICIAL
Issues:
THE
• Capacity
UNDER
• No Managed Isolation Facility (MIF)
• Multi Agency Approach
RELEASED

Document 2
1982
Outputs:
Act
What has
• 0800 GET MOH (1)  (0800 438 664)
been done to
• SPOC – Single Point of Con
INFORMATION  tact
mitigate
• Interim Transport Solution
OFFICIAL
identified
• Accommodation
• NORT –
THE National Outbreak Response Team
risks!
UNDER
RELEASED

Document 2
Any regional PHU that does not ha
1982 ve an Managed
isolation facility within their c
Act atchment will
potential y identify with the concerns raised by
Southern
Table top exercises will be c
INFORMATION  arried out across all
regions with The Lakes region to be exercised next
(Taupo/Rotorua e
OFFICIAL  tc)
THE
They have been identified as likely to have an influx
of visit
UNDER  ors both within and outside our border in early
July.
RELEASED

Document 3
1982
Act
Exercise Horapa
INFORMATION
An TTX/discussion tool to assess readiness for cases
and outbreaks of COVID-19
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
Presented by COVID-19
RELEASED Response Team, MOH

Document 3
SITUATION 1
1982
Act
• A case is notified in your region of a 55 year old
Māori woman who has tested positive for COVID-
19 with a Ct of 21.
INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
It is a Tuesday afternoon
RELEASED

Document 3
Discussion
1982
Act
• How does your region stand up an IMT?
• Who do you contact at MOH?
• What is your process for contacting
INFORMATION and
isolating the case?
• What is your battle rhythm
OFFICIAL ?
THE
• Other
UNDER
RELEASED

Document 3
SITUATION 2
1982
• You have undertaken initial contact tracing activities
Act  with the case.
• The case is Moana, a 55 year old Māori woman who is a mother of
three. Her household close contacts include:
- Her husband John (Māori, 60 years old)
- Her children Richard, John Jr and Aroha, aged 21, 20 a
INFORMATION nd 18.
• Moana works as an in home carer for an e
OFFICIAL  lderly lady
• John works at a large freezing wor
THE  ks
• Richard is a personal trainer, John Jr is studying by correspondence, and
Aroha is in year 13 at a local hi
UNDER  gh school.
It is Tuesday evening
RELEASED

Document 3
SITUATION 3
1982
• Moana began to feel il  on Sunday morning
Act   and was
tested on Monday morning at a GP clinic. Her
symptoms are fever, anosmia, muscle aches and sore
throat.
• She worked on Saturday providing in-home
INFORMATION
care for an
elderly woman. She went to church on Sunday morning
and Countdown on Sunday afte
OFFICIAL  rnoon.
• She did not leave the hou
THE  se on Monday or Tuesday as
she felt ill.
UNDER
RELEASED
It is a Tuesday evening

Document 3
Discussion
1982
Act
• What does your after-hours team look like?
• How do you engage with the NCTS?
• What testing activities would be un
INFORMATION  dertaken
and how?
• What would the developm
OFFICIAL ent of a surveil ance
plan for your area look
THE   like?
• If you required sup
UNDER  port, how would you go
about getting it?
• Other RELEASED

Document 3
SITUATION 4
1982
• John, Moana’s husband, has tested po
Act  sitive
with a Ct of 29.
• John is asymptomatic.
INFORMATION
• John worked on Saturday and Sunday at the
freezing works, from 8am –
OFFICIAL  6pm.
• John is a supervisor a
THE  nd his job involves
significant movement around the facility.
• There are approxim
UNDER  ately 300 people work at
this facility at any one time
It is Wednesday morning
RELEASED

Document 3
Discussion
1982
Act
• How would you deal with the freezing works?
• What are your considerations around mass
gatherings in your area? INFORMATION
• What would you do around isolating cases and
contacts?
OFFICIAL
• Other
THE
UNDER
RELEASED

Document 3
SITUATION 5
1982
• Both John and Moana have returned
Act  genome
sequences showing they are infected with the
delta variant of COVID-19, linked to a returnee
who was in an Auckland isolation fa
INFORMATION  cility over
two weeks ago.
• The Government wil , as of 1
OFFICIAL  1.59pm tonight,
move the whole of th
THE  e North Island into AL3
and the South Island into AL2.
UNDER
It is Wednesday evening
RELEASED

Document 3
Discussion
1982
Act
• Would you approach anything differently given
the genome sequencing information?
• How does the Alert Level shift impa
INFORMATION ct your
work?
• What would you do re. sou
OFFICIAL rce investigation?
• Other
THE
UNDER
RELEASED

Document 3
Wrap up
1982
Act
• Lessons
• Actions
• Next steps
INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
RELEASED

Document Outline

3. Exercise Horapa v1.0.pdf
2. COVID Preparedness – Southern DHB V1.pdf