133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
18 October 2021
Scott
By email: [FYI request #16776 email]
Ref:
H202112506
Tēnā koe Scott
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health (the Ministry) on 17 September 2021 for information relating to the Waikato District
Health Board (DHB) ransomware attack. You specifically requested:
1)
“The Ministry of Health communications plan”
A copy of this document is enclosed and has been released to you in full.
2)
“The Ministry of Health response plan or action plan”
I have been advised that you have also directed this request to Waikato DHB. As Waikato DHB
leads the action plan, they will respond to this part of your request.
3)
“All briefings, reports or memoranda provided to Minister Andrew Little”
The release of this information is likely to compromise the health and safety of patients and
service user information, as well as disclose details that would increase Waikato DHB’s security
risk. For this reason, information relating to this part of your request is withheld in full under the
following sections of the Act:
• section 6(c) as its release would likely prejudice the maintenance of the law, including
the prevention, investigation, and detection of offences, and the right to a fair trial; and
• section 9(2)(ba)(i), to protect information that is subject to an obligation of confidence
and making it available would likely prejudice the supply of similar information, or
information from the same source; and
• section 9(2)(c), to avoid prejudice to measures to protect the health or safety of the
public; and
• section 9(2)(e), to avoid prejudice to measures that prevent or mitigate material loss to
members of the public.
I trust this information fulfils your request. 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.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Darren Douglass
Acting Deputy Director-General
Data and Digital
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