6 July 2021

Terry Thomas
[FYI request #15852 email]

Dear Mr Thomas
Official Information Request
Our Ref: OIA 2021-0076
I refer to your official information request received on 21 June 2021 where you asked for the fol owing:
“Al  communications, advice, reports, notes, agendas, meeting attendance lists, minutes, and
decision documents relating to any expectation or instruction from the commission regarding
covid-19 vaccination of public servants. This should include any communication to and from
public sector agencies and executives, and ministers on this subject. You only need include
information from 2021.

For the avoidance of doubt, this should also include but not be limited to notes of al  phone
cal s, meetings, any text messages, emails, instant messages, notes in note books or any other
medium or form, and phone logs.”
Information publicly available

Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission (the Commission)  issued guidance on COVID-19
workforce vaccinations  under  s95(a)  of the Public Service Act 2020.  It applies to  public sector
agencies and their employees.  This  guidance can be found on the Commission’s website.   The
Commission has also proactively released a report regarding guidance on workforce matters relating
to the COVID-19 vaccination rol  out. I have provided the links for these in the below table:
Item
Document Description
Website address
1
  COVID-19 Workforce Vaccinations Guidance
COVID-19 Workforce Vaccinations Guidance | Te
Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
2
  Report: Guidance on workforce matters  Guidance-on-workforce-matters-relating-to-COVID-
relating to COVID-19 vaccination roll out:  19-vaccination-roll-out-Government-Workforce-
Government Workforce Policy Statement for  Policy-Statement-for-the-public-sector.pdf
the public sector
(publicservice.govt.nz)
Accordingly I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(d) of the Official Information Act
1982 (OIA) on the grounds that the information requested is publicly available.
Information being released
Updates in relation to the COVID-19 vaccinations have been provided to the Public Sector Heads of
Human Resources (HR) group.    Members of this group are the Heads of HR departments in public
service agencies, crown agents and crown entities.
Level 10, RBNZ Building |   2 The Terrace | PO Box 329
Wel ington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600

As HR Head of Profession, the Commission regularly coordinates meetings with this group to share
information on key public service wide activities and provide advice on topics of relevancy to the HR
community.  Please find outlined in the below table the Heads of HR meeting Minutes that contains
information which fal s within scope of your request.

Item
Date
Document Description
Decision
3
  11 February 2021
State services Heads of HR Meeting Minutes
Released in part
4
  16 February 2021
Public Sector Heads of HR Conference Call Meeting  Released in full
Minutes
5
  25 February 2021
Public Service Heads of HR (Conference Call) Meeting  Released in part
Minutes
6
  11 March 2021
Public Service Heads of HR (Conference Call) Meeting  Released in part
Minutes
7
  11 March 2021
Wider Group: Heads of HR (Conference Call) Meeting  Released in part
Minutes
8
  25 March 2021
Public Service Heads of HR (Conference Call) Meeting  Released in part
Minutes
9
  8 April 2021
Public Service Heads of HR (Conference Call) Meeting  Released in part
Minutes
10
  20 May 2021
Wider Group of Heads of HR (Conference Call) Meeting  Released in part
Minutes
11

Our COVID-19 vaccination plan
Released in full
We have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above in ful , with information
only redacted where it is not within the scope of your request.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz  or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that we intend to publish this letter (with your personal details removed) and enclosed
documents on the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission’s website.

Yours sincerely

Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission

Document Outline