133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
6 October 2021
T+64 4 496 2000
John Luke
By email:
[FYI request #16792 email]
Ref:
H202112580
Tēnā koe John
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 19 September
2021 for information relating to the COVID-19 Ethnic vaccine: Ethnic Communities
communications fund. Please find a response to each part of your request below:
“Can you please kindly provide the name and bio of these panel member? Their pay rate
and term of appointment.”
“Are you having any external member on the panel or simply just the Ministry personal?”
The Ministry has invited four people to form the panel to assess applications for the Ethnic
Communities communications fund. This panel will consist of one person from the Ministry of
Health COVID-19 Vaccine Programme (CVIP), a senior staff member from the Ministry for
Ethnic Communities (MEC), the National President of the New Zealand Red Cross and a Senior
Human Rights Advisor for the New Zealand Human Right Commission.
•
The panel member from CVIP is Beth Williams. Beth is the Manager, Engagement (non-
Health) within the COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation programme and has worked on
the Disabled Persons Communications Fund panel previously. Her responsibility is to
help manage the panel through the required processes, in addition to managing the
team within CVIP Comms and Engagement who work with stakeholders from a wide
range of ethnic communities.
•
The panel member from MEC is Fleur Murray, who is the Deputy Chief Executive of
Corporate Affairs. Part of this portfolio includes being responsible for the
communications team within MEC.
• The panel member from the New Zealand Red Cross is Kerry Nickels. Kerry is the
National President of New Zealand Red Cross, a humanitarian organisation that seeks
to improve the lives of vulnerable people, supporting communities through conflict and
disaster and helping to build community resilience.
• The panel member from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission is Martine Abel-
Williamson. Martine is a Senior Human Rights Advisor for the New Zealand Human
Rights Commission and has also previously worked on the Disabled Persons
Communications Fund panel. Martine has 11 years’ experience at a local government
level where she held roles in community development and policy advisory areas. Her
networks span widely into ethnic and culturally diverse communities.
There is no specific payment or term of appointment as a member of the panel. The members
are contributing to the panel as part of their existing roles.
“How did you call for public expression of interest for these panel members positions?”
The Ministry of Health (the Ministry) did not call for expressions of interest. The Ministry
discussed and agreed the approach with MEC and asked the two other organisations to put
forward a suitable member for the panel.
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 of Health website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases. Nāku noa, nā
Jo Gibbs
National Director
COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme
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