Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your request for official information received on 29
September 2021 for:

 

"1. How much of this Covid-19 strategy spending is allocated to :

-vaccine marketing and advertising,

- paid adverts to Youtube (Alphabet) and Facebook -other vaccine public
relations, -contributions of cultural competence to the NZ Herald,
Mediaworks, The Universities of Auckland and Otago, and RadioNZ, -number
vaccine disinformation analysts, including salaries or contractor
positions,

- number of PR staff

 

2. All 2020 and 2021 emails between the Minister of Health (or his staff)
and Mrs Helen Petousis-Harris of the University of Auckland.”

 

The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202113333.

 

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 28 October 2021, being
20 working days after the day your request was received.

 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

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Kia ora Erika,

 

Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information..

 

Ngā mihi,

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [email address]

 

 

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Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
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Kia ora Erika

 

As the information you have requested is more closely connected with the
functions of the Minister of Health, part of your Official Information Act
request has been transferred to this office for response. Thank you for
your request, received by this office 27 October 2021.

 

You requested:

 

“All 2020 and 2021 emails between the Minister of Health (or his staff)
and Mrs Helen Petousis-Harris of the University of Auckland.”

 

Pursuant to section 15 (1) of the Act we will endeavour to respond to your
request as soon as possible, and no later than 24 November 2021 being 20
working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to
respond to your request within this timeframe, we will notify you of an
extension of that timeframe.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi nui

 

 

Steph Harding
Private Secretary (Health)

 

Office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Health, Lead Coordination
Minister for the Government’s Response to The Royal Commission’s Report
into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques, Minister for Treaty
of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister
Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email
[1][email address] | Web [2]beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost
Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand

[3]https://xink.io/wp-content/themes/Xink/a...

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
[8]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

Authorised by Hon Andrew Little MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160,
New Zealand

 

From: OIA Requests [mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Wednesday, 27 October 2021 3:54 PM
To: [FOI #16933 email]
Cc: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Your request for information, ref:H202113333

 

Kia ora Erika,

 

Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information..

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [9][email address]

 

 

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References

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4. https://twitter.com/AndrewLittleMP
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6. https://nz.linkedin.com/in/andrewlittlemp
7. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
8. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
9. mailto:[email address]

Kia ora Erika

 

Please find attached a response to your request for official information
from Hon Andrew Little, Minister of Health.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

Steph Harding
Private Secretary (Health)

 

Office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Health, Lead Coordination
Minister for the Government’s Response to The Royal Commission’s Report
into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques, Minister for Treaty
of Waitangi Negotiations, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister
Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email
[1][email address] | Web [2]beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost
Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand

[3]https://xink.io/wp-content/themes/Xink/a...

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
[8]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

Authorised by Hon Andrew Little MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160,
New Zealand

 

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4. https://twitter.com/AndrewLittleMP
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6. https://nz.linkedin.com/in/andrewlittlemp
7. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon...
8. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

[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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Kia ora Erika,

 

I am just writing to inform you that there will be a delay in providing
the information you have requested under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act).

 

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is directly involved in
the government response to COVID-19. Due to this, our timelines to respond
to requests have been impacted. We are working to ensure that this delay
is minimal, and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work
towards finalising your response.

 

You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review this
delay under section 28(3) of the Act.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

 

Tom Turnbull

Ministerial Advisor, Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

 

[1]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0

 

 

 

 

From: Information [DPMC] <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 24 November 2021 5:09 pm
To: [FOI #16933 email]
Cc: Information [DPMC] <[email address]>
Subject: Your OIA Request - Extension Notification

 

 

 

[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    [2][email address]
 
[3]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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2. mailto:[email address]

 

 

[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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Tēnā koe 

 

Thank you for emailing the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (DPMC), including the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA).   

Please note, DPMC is not able to respond to emails that are
outside its purview. If the subject of your email does not relate to the
work of DPMC, we will forward your email to the appropriate Minister
or agency who will respond to you directly. To find out more about the
functions of DPMC please view our website - [1]https://dpmc.govt.nz/ 

 

If your correspondence is intended for the Prime Minister please email her
office at - [2][email address]. Contact information for other
Members of Parliament can be found at
- [3]https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involve...

If you are writing about an issue relating to COVID-19, we encourage you
to first refer to the [4]COVID-19 website. Here’s a list of links that you
may find helpful: 

o [5]Current Alert Level
o [6]Latest Government COVID-19 information
o [7]Jobs, training and financial support
o [8]Travel and the border
o [9]Mental wellbeing, accessing health care and violence protection
o [10]Information for businesses
o [11]Proactive release of Government Response documents
o [12]Managed Isolation and Quarantine 

If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, please call your local GP or
contact the Healthline team on 0800 358 5453

Common Questions:

* Official Information Act (OIA) Requests will be formally acknowledged
during office hours and actioned accordingly. For more information
about the statutory OIA timeframes please see
- [13]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.
* For Job opportunities within DPMC please see
- [14]https://centralagenciesjobs.cass.govt.nz.... Please use
this website to apply for vacancies, unfortunately resumes received
through other avenues will not be considered.
* New Zealand Visas and requests for asylum are managed by Immigration
New Zealand. Please see - [15]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/. 

We hope one of the above links helps answer your question.  

We appreciate your patience at this time. Thanks again and please take
care.

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The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
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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.

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4. https://covid19.govt.nz/
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19/current...
6. https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-reso...
7. https://covid19.govt.nz/jobs-and-training/ Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link
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15. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) received on Monday, 4 April 2022, copied below.

We will respond to your request within the statutory timeframes set out in the Act.  If we are unable to met these timeframes we will notify you. Please note, due to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's (DPMC) involvement in the government’s response to COVID-19, our timeliness to respond to requests may be impacted.  If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into account.

Your request will be managed by the Ministerial Services Team within DPMC. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us at [email address].

DPMC may publish the response to your OIA request. If we publish the response your personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Ngā mihi,

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

E    [email address]

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.

-----Original Message-----
From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #16933 email]>
Sent: Monday, 4 April 2022 11:54 am
To: Information [DPMC] <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Your OIA Request - A Response

Dear Information [DPMC],
I see in this OIA that Mrs Petousis-Harris is a member of a MoH governance group.
https://fyi.org.nz/request/15656-covid-1...

Kindly explain how she attends these meetings in 2021 with no email correspondence from the Minister of Health or Ministry of Health staff?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

-----Original Message-----

 

 

[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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-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #16933 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your request for official information which was transferred
from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and received by the
Ministry of Health on 7 April 2022 for:

 

"I see in this OIA that Mrs Petousis-Harris is a member of a MoH
governance group.

[1]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

Kindly explain how she attends these meetings in 2021 with no email
correspondence from the Minister of Health or Ministry of Health staff?”

 

The Ministry of Health has consolidated this request with your earlier
request for official information under reference number: H202205072.

 

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 4 May 2022, being 20
working days after the day your first request was received.

 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [2][email address]

 

****************************************************************************
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legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
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Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.

In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. This
means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
relating to COVID-19.

Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
hear from us soon if that is the case here.

Ngā mihi,

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [3][email address]

 

 

 

 

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distribute or copy this message or attachments.
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Tçnâ koe Erika,

 

Thank you for your consolidated requests  under the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 2 and 7
April 2022. You asked:

 

1. Please provide a report on the Medsafe deaths with the same 28 day
criteria for deaths post vaccine, ie the vaccine recipient died with 28
days after any Comirnaty dose administration.

Information on reports of death occurring after people have been
vaccinated and an analysis of the observed number of deaths compared to
the expected number can be found on the adverse events following
immunisation (AEFI) reports published on Medsafe’s website:
[1]www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vaccine-report-overview.asp.

 

Medsafe cannot compare the observed numbers of deaths with the expected
number for 28 days post vaccine as individuals can receive dose two within
28 days of receiving dose one. For reports to Centre for Adverse Reactions
Monitoring (CARM), Medsafe does not make any cut off as it would depend
what side effect the vaccine caused to how long the appropriate follow up
would be for death.

2. Please provide a report on COVID-19 disease deaths which identify and
count deaths for groups which are considered “unrelated”. I use the term
“unrelated” because the term is also used to describe the vaccine deaths.
For example where COVID-19 was not the primary cause of death, where the
deceased has co-morbidities, terminally ill with cancer etc, etc. Medsafe
report on these “unrelated” deaths for the vaccine. The same consistent
reporting for the disease deaths is my request.

Detailed data on the health status of recent deaths of people with
COVID-19 is not reported nationally in real time. Due to the shift from
active management of cases during phase three of the Omicron response,
co-morbidities information is now primarily collected in hospitals and is
provided to the Ministry by the district health boards (DHBs) within 21
days of the month of discharge. Due to this lag and other reporting
processes, the Ministry is processing this data and will release it when
it is able to do so. The Ministry acknowledges the high level of public
interest in the release of this information and is looking at providing as
much information as possible while preserving privacy. The extent to which
COVID-19 contributed to a person’s death is recorded on the Ministry’s
website:
[2]www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-case-demographics
and these figures will continue to change as these deaths are reviewed. 

 

3. I see in this OIA that Mrs Petousis-Harris is a member of a MoH
governance group.

[3]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

Kindly explain how she attends these meetings in 2021 with no email
correspondence from the Minister of Health or Ministry of Health staff?

 

The Ministry of Health understands this request is in response to a
separate request you made to the Office of the Minister of Health, Hon
Andrew Little for emails between the Minister (and his staff) and
Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris (ALOIA121 refers). Please be
advised the Minister’s office and the Ministry of Health are separate
agencies and therefore have different staff. Members of the COVID-19
Vaccine Technical Advisory Group receive meeting invitations from the
secretariat of the group.

 

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: [4][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 

Ngâ mihi

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [5][email address]

 

 

 

****************************************************************************
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legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
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References

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2. https://www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-nove...
3. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Erika 

 

Preliminary Inquiry - Ombudsman ref: 571989  

 

On 6 May 2022, a decision was communicated by the Ministry of Health to
the Office of the Ombudsman where the Ministry would provide a
reconsidered response to your request for information (ref: H202113333).
At that time, the Ministry advised that the reconsidered response would
include a breakdown of the $714,569,000 allocation.  

 

The Ministry has reconsidered its response to you and upon further
discussions with subject matter experts, it has been advised that the
breakdown of the $714,569,000 allocation would be commercially sensitive.
As such, the Ministry has made the decision to withhold the breakdown of
the $714,569,000 allocation in full under the following sections of the
Official Information Act 1982: 

o 9(2)(b)(ii) to protect information where the making available of the
information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial
position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the
information; and  
o 9(2)(ba)(i) to protect information which is subject to an obligation
of confidence, where the making available of the information would be
likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or information
from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such
information should continue to be supplied 

 

Please note I have considered the countervailing public interest in
release in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the
need to withhold at this time. 

 

The Ministry accepts this may not be the outcome you were after and would
like to thank you for your patience while we reconsidered your request.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the OIA to ask the Office of the
Ombudsman to review this decision. 

 

 

Nāku noa, nā 

 

Jan Torres 

Acting Manager, OIA Services 

Government and Executive Services 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

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Kia ora Erika

 

Thank you for your email. We would like to clarify that the Ministry is
protecting the commercial interests of third parties (the vaccine
companies) by withholding this information. While there is significant
interest in COVID-19 vaccine related costs, the Ministry notes that it is
warranted to withhold information under the Official Information Act, for
the purpose of maintaining commercial confidence and retain an
advantageous negotiating position for the Crown.

 

Vaccine pricing information is subject to an express obligation of
confidence. The purchase agreements entered into by the New Zealand
government each included broad confidentiality clauses, which protected
information, shared between the parties to the agreement and the terms of
the agreements themselves.

 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Erika Whittome <[3][FOI #16933 email]>

Sent: Wednesday, 3 August 2022 6:07 pm

To: OIA Requests <[4][email address]>

Subject: Re: Correspondence regarding your Official Information Act
request (ref. 571989) CRM:0131050

 

Dear OIA Requests,

 

Since when is the Ministry of Health a commercial corporation requiring a
thing called commercial sensitivity?

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Erika Whittome

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Kia ora Erika 

 

 

 

Preliminary Inquiry - Ombudsman ref: 571989  

 

 

 

On 6 May 2022, a decision was communicated by the Ministry of Health to 
the Office of the Ombudsman where the Ministry would provide a 
reconsidered response to your request for information (ref: H202113333).

At that time, the Ministry advised that the reconsidered response would 
include a breakdown of the $714,569,000 allocation.  

 

 

 

The Ministry has reconsidered its response to you and upon further 
discussions with subject matter experts, it has been advised that the 
breakdown of the $714,569,000 allocation would be commercially sensitive.

As such, the Ministry has made the decision to withhold the breakdown of 
the $714,569,000 allocation in full under the following sections of the 
Official Information Act 1982: 

 

o 9(2)(b)(ii) to protect information where the making available of the 
information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial 
position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the 
information; and  o 9(2)(ba)(i) to protect information which is subject to
an obligation  of confidence, where the making available of the
information would be  likely to prejudice the supply of similar
information, or information  from the same source, and it is in the public
interest that such  information should continue to be supplied 

 

 

 

Please note I have considered the countervailing public interest in 
release in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh
the  need to withhold at this time. 

 

 

 

The Ministry accepts this may not be the outcome you were after and would 
like to thank you for your patience while we reconsidered your request.

You have the right under section 28(3) of the OIA to ask the Office of
the  Ombudsman to review this decision. 

 

 

 

 

 

Nāku noa, nā 

 

 

 

Jan Torres 

 

Acting Manager, OIA Services 

 

Government and Executive Services 

 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases  U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

 

 

References

 

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1. [5]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

2.
[6]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

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[7][FOI #16933 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
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page.

 

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Kia ora Erika, 
Thank you for your email. Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) has
already outlined our decision regarding your request for a breakdown of
spending on the COVID-19 response and have explained our reasons for
withholding the information in scope of your request. 
While the Act allows New Zealanders to ask Ministers and government
agencies for information, it is not a vehicle to engage in a debate with
Ministers or agencies about the Government’s response to the global
COVID-19 pandemic.  There is no requirement under the Act for agencies to
create new information, compile information they do not hold, respond to
hypothetical questions or, as in this case, provide or prove an opinion. 
The Act does not support requests where statements are put to agencies and
Ministers for response, couched as a request for official
information. Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(g) of the
Act on the grounds that the information is not held by Manatū Hauora and
do not consider it is held by any other agency subject to the Act.
We are aware that you were advised by the Office of the Ombudsman
to submit another request to Manatū Hauora, with the amended scope of
emails held by Manatū Hauora staff if this is the information you are
seeking. Manatū Hauora is yet to receive a request from you for this
information. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #16933 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 6 August 2022 18:19
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Correspondence regarding your Official Information Act
request (ref. 571989) CRM:0131050
 
Dear OIA Requests,

This OIA is for the Ministry of Health on its C-19 strategy spending and
emails to a certain academic figure promoting vaccines.

This OIA request is NOT for PHARMAC and its spending on products,  Nor is
this OIA request  on the actual drug spending for pharmaceutical or
vaccine products from the Ministry of Health. This OIA request is on the
spending on a C19 strategy and on MoH emails to Mrs Petousis-Harris.

Is this the answer to the OIA request that:
1. the Ministry takes strategy from the vaccine companies whose commercial
interests require protection?
2. that the vaccine companies need to be commercially protected and the
MoH takes direction from the vaccine companies for its budget line items?

3. Do "the vaccine companies" have a commercial interest in the Ministry
of Health because the vaccine companies are an alleged third party to the
Ministry of Health refusal to answer this OIA request?

Should there be a judicial review, it would be the government minister(s)
who would appear to answer on the strategy spending , and not the vaccine
companies.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Erika

  

 Thank you for your email. We would like to clarify that the Ministry is
 protecting the commercial interests of third parties (the vaccine
 companies) by withholding this information. While there is significant
 interest in COVID-19 vaccine related costs, the Ministry notes that it is
 warranted to withhold information under the Official Information Act, for
 the purpose of maintaining commercial confidence and retain an
 advantageous negotiating position for the Crown.

  

 Vaccine pricing information is subject to an express obligation of
 confidence. The purchase agreements entered into by the New Zealand
 government each included broad confidentiality clauses, which protected
 information, shared between the parties to the agreement and the terms of
 the agreements themselves.

  

 Ngā mihi 

   

 OIA Services Team 

 M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
 U[2]nite against COVID-19 

  

  

-------------------------------------------------------------------
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Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
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[3]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

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