26 November 2021
A. J. Sheppard
By email:
[FYI request #17370 email]
Reference: OIA-2021/22-0499
Dear A. J. Sheppard
Official Information Act request for all communications relating to Tokelau’s COVID-19
vaccination programme
Thank you for your request made under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), received
on 28 October 2021. You requested (numbering added by us):
1) Has the Prime Minister or any Cabinet Ministers had contact with the administrator
of Tokelau regarding covid 19 or the covid 19 vaccination program in Tokelau?
2) I request copies of any correspondence involving covid 19 and Tokelau's covid 19
vaccine rollout/ plan between the Prime Minister and the administrator of Tokelau
between 1st May 2021 and 31st August 2021.
3) I request copies of any correspondence involving covid 19 and Tokelau's covid 19
vaccine rollout/plan between the any Cabinet Minister and the administrator of
Tokelau between 1st May 2021 and 31st August 2021.”
I believe parts one and two of your request are more closely connected to the functions of
the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern.
I believe part three of your request is more closely connected to the functions of the following
Cabinet Ministers:
Hon Andrew Little, Minister of Health;
Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for COVID-19 Response;
Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and
Hon Aupito William Sio, Associate Minister of Health (Pacific Peoples)
Accordingly, I have decided under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act to transfer your request to the
Prime Minister and Ministers listed above, as far as it relates to their portfolios and the parts
indicated.
These Ministers have the usual timeframes under the Act from receipt of this transfer to
make a decision on your request.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Corbett
Manager Ministerial and Business Services
4454317
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz
