Conversation on domestic proof of vaccination status
Andrew Ecclestone made this Official Information request to Grant Robertson
The request was successful.
From: Andrew Ecclestone
Dear Grant Robertson,
At the lunchtime press conference today (10 September 2021) you were asked about the government's stance on 'vaccine passports' being used domestically, i.e. not for international travel but to access venues within New Zealand. This was at the 33 minute 20 second mark in the Radio New Zealand video recording of the press conference available here https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19/4512... .
You responded that there is a 'conversation underway' about this issue.
In relation solely to the information you hold, please provide details of:
(a) who, to your knowledge, within government is involved in this 'conversation';
(b) when, to your knowledge, this 'conversation' began;
(c) when, to your knowledge, you think Cabinet will be making a decision on this issue; and
(c) which, to your knowledge, non-government organisations or people are involved in this 'conversation'.
Given the significant civil liberties issues involved in people having to provide proof of their Covid-19 status to exercise their freedom of movement and association, and maintaining privacy of their medical information, I am sure you will appreciate there is a strong public interest in the section 4(a)(i) public participation purpose of the OIA in this information being provided as soon as possible, so that this 'conversation' can include a well-informed public.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Ecclestone
From: Hon Grant Robertson
Kia Ora,
Thank you for contacting Hon Grant Robertson, Deputy Prime Minister, the
Minister of Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Sport and
Recreation, Minister for Racing and MP for Wellington Central.
The Minister considers all correspondence important and appreciates you
taking the time to write. As Minister Robertson receives a large amount of
correspondence it is not always possible to personally reply to all
emails.
The following guidelines apply:
Portfolio related correspondence will be considered and responded to
where appropriate
Invitations and requests to meet with the Minister will be processed as
soon as possible and a staff member will be in contact with you in due
course
Media queries will be responded to by a staff member.
Requests for official information will be managed in accordance with the
provisions of the Official Information Act 1982, which may include
transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency.
If your correspondence is to the Minister as the Member of Parliament for
Wellington Central, this will be referred to his electorate office.
If your email falls outside of the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities,
expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple Members of Parliament,
then your opinion will be noted and your correspondence may be transferred
to another office, or there may be no further response to you.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[1]http://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Release...
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References
Visible links
1. http://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Release...
From: Hon Grant Robertson
Dear Andrew Ecclestone
On behalf of the Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 13 September 2021. Your request was received in this office on 13 September 2021 and will be responded to under the provisions of the Official Information Act.
Yours sincerely
Katy Greco-Ainslie
Private Secretary
Katy Greco-Ainslie | Private Secretary | Office of Hon Grant Robertson
Deputy Prime Minister | Minister of Finance | Minister for Infrastructure | Minister for Racing | Minister for Sport and Recreation
Member of Parliament for Wellington Central
Private Bag 18 888 |Parliament Buildings |Wellington 6011 www.beehive.govt.nz
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers' portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you'd like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
show quoted sections
From: Hon Grant Robertson
Letter from Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, attached.
Private Secretary | Office of Hon Grant Robertson
Deputy Prime Minister | Minister of Finance | Minister for Infrastructure | Minister for Racing | Minister for Sport and Recreation
Member of Parliament for Wellington Central
Private Bag 18 888 |Parliament Buildings |Wellington 6011 www.beehive.govt.nz
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers' portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you'd like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
show quoted sections
From: Information [DPMC]
[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
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
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Mark Hanna left an annotation ()
It's very disappointing to see the Minister sending an inaccessible image of text saying the request is being transferred, even though the legal deadline for transfer passed two working days earlier on the 26th of September.
I'm also surprised their letter contains no reference to the fact that they missed the legal deadline for transfer, nor an apology. I hope they aren't just hoping that you won't have realised that they broke the law.
This is very, very far from best practice.
Link to this