Dear Jacinda Ardern,

I am writing today to make a request as per the Official Information Act, regarding the COVID-19 response and related matters.

This request extends to all persons, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, organisations, bodies, or individuals advising on such matters, or otherwise exerting influence in any capacity. If this request relates to information that you have reason to believe may be held by any other persons or bodies, I trust that you will forward this request to them and advise accordingly.

Is it correct that the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017[1] was the sole or primary government plan for pandemic management, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic? What other pandemic planning was in place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Is it correct that the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017 was intended to establish a framework for action that can readily be adopted and applied to any pandemic, irrespective of the nature of the virus and its severity?

Does the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017 recognise that people who recover from a viral disease are likely to acquire natural immunity? On the balance of evidence (both for and against) is there reason to believe that this is not the case with COVID-19?

Is it correct that the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017 is based on planning around a respiratory virus with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 2%?

In countries/states with populations and healthcare systems comparable to New Zealand: During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, what has been the case fatality rate of COVID-19? How does that data distinguish "dying of COVID-19" from "dying with COVID-19"? What has been the average and median age of COVID-19 deaths, and how does that compare to average life expectancy? What comorbidities (eg cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, low/deficient serum vitamin D, low/deficient serum zinc) stand out as relevant to infection, disease progression or death? On average, how many of those comorbidities are associated with each COVID-19 death?

Within New Zealand: During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, what has been the case fatality rate of COVID-19? How does that data distinguish "dying of COVID-19" from "dying with COVID-19"? What has been the average and median age of COVID-19 deaths, and how does that compare to average life expectancy? What comorbidities (eg cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, low/deficient serum vitamin D, low/deficient serum zinc) stand out as relevant to infection, disease progression or death? On average, how many of those comorbidities are associated with each COVID-19 death?

On what basis (eg what balance of evidence, both for and against) was the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017 effectively set aside, in favour of pandemic planning that appears more ad lib? What legal process was required for such change of plans?

What is the current status of COVID-19 pandemic planning? Where can these plans be found in their entirety? Are these plans being made up ad lib? How have they evolved thus far?

Is it correct that the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017 aims towards recovery from a pandemic, and expediting the recovery of population health, communities and society where they have been affected by the pandemic, pandemic management measures or disruption to normal services? Is it correct that the intent of that plan is a return to pre-pandemic normal, as quickly as practicable?

Does current COVID-19 planning (and variations) aim towards recovery from a pandemic, and expediting the recovery of population health, communities and society where they have been affected by the pandemic, pandemic management measures or disruption to normal services? Is it correct that the intent of COVID-19 planning is a return to pre-pandemic normal, as quickly as practicable?

By what means does current COVID-19 planning have to work towards recovery from a pandemic, and expediting the recovery of population health, communities and society where they have been affected by the pandemic, pandemic management measures or disruption to normal services? On what basis (both for and against) have restrictions and disruptions to normal life, over an extended period of time, been assessed and calculated to be (presumably) of net benefit, compared to alternative courses of action, such as allowing COVID-19 to spread, and reaching natural/acquired herd immunity?

On what basis (eg what balance of evidence, both for and against, both planned and ongoing) is current COVID-19 planning expected to facilitate a return to pre-pandemic normal? Over what timeline?

Considering growing concerns that COVID-19 vaccines offer limited efficacy over a limited duration, and also considering growing safety concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines, what basis (both for and against) is there for relying on COVID-19 vaccinations as a means to return to normal? What other factors are influencing the apparent reliance on COVID-19 vaccines, at the exclusion of all other options?

On what balance of evidence (both for and against) have alternatives to COVID-19 vaccinations been considered for prevention and early treatment protocols, such as those developed by The FLCCC?[2][3]

Are you or your office aware of any other persons, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, organisations, bodies, or individuals, whether or not based in New Zealand, whether or not subject to OIA Requests, which have had influence over any of the matters raised herein? If so, who/what are they?

1- https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...

2- https://covid19criticalcare.com/covid-19...

3- https://covid19criticalcare.com/covid-19...

Please refer to my reference, ASE2021102901, in all replies to this request.

Thank you,

AS Emet

Dear J Ardern (MIN),

Reference: ASE2021102901

Thank you for your response to this request for information.

While some of the questions raised in this request may be suitably answered by The Ministry of Health, several questions are best answered by the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and her office/staff. In part, this is to understand where the Prime Minister's understanding of these matters may differ from The Ministry of Health. In particular, the questions that your office has identified as "g", "h", "i", "j", "k", "l", "m" and "o" (as listed, below) are of interested not only by way of answers from The Ministry of Health, but also the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and her office/staff.

g - On what basis (eg what balance of evidence, both for and against) was the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017 effectively set aside, in favour of pandemic planning that appears more ad lib? What legal process was required for such change of plans?

h - What is the current status of COVID-19 pandemic planning? Where can these plans be found in their entirety? Are these plans being made up ad lib? How have they evolved thus far?

i - Is it correct that the New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan of 2017 aims towards recovery from a pandemic, and expediting the recovery of population health, communities and society where they have been affected by the pandemic, pandemic management measures or disruption to normal services? Is it correct that the intent of that plan is a return to pre-pandemic normal, as quickly as practicable?

j - Does current COVID-19 planning (and variations) aim towards recovery from a pandemic, and expediting the recovery of population health, communities and society where they have been affected by the pandemic, pandemic management measures or disruption to normal services? Is it correct that the intent of COVID-19 planning is a return to pre-pandemic normal, as quickly as practicable?

k - By what means does current COVID-19 planning have to work towards recovery from a pandemic, and expediting the recovery of population health, communities and society where they have been affected by the pandemic, pandemic management measures or disruption to normal services? On what basis (both for and against) have restrictions and disruptions to normal life, over an extended period of time, been assessed and calculated to be (presumably) of net benefit, compared to alternative courses of action, such as allowing COVID-19 to spread, and reaching natural/acquired herd immunity?

l - On what basis (eg what balance of evidence, both for and against, both planned and ongoing) is current COVID-19 planning expected to facilitate a return to pre-pandemic normal? Over what timeline?

m - Considering growing concerns that COVID-19 vaccines offer limited efficacy over a limited duration, and also considering growing safety concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines, what basis (both for and against) is there for relying on COVID-19 vaccinations as a means to return to normal? What other factors are influencing the apparent reliance on COVID-19 vaccines, at the exclusion of all other options?

o - Are you or your office aware of any other persons, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, organisations, bodies, or individuals, whether or not based in New Zealand, whether or not subject to OIA Requests, which have had influence over any of the matters raised herein? If so, who/what are they?

Please bear in mind that this request for information specifies: This request extends to all persons, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, organisations, bodies, or individuals advising on such matters, or otherwise exerting influence in any capacity. If this request relates to information that you have reason to believe may be held by any other persons or bodies, I trust that you will forward this request to them and advise accordingly.

Please further note that that this Official Request for Information is amended to include: Are you or your office aware of any other persons, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, organisations, bodies, or individuals, whether or not based in New Zealand, whether or not subject to OIA Requests, which have had influence over any of the matters raised herein? If so, who/what are they?

Thank you,

AS Emet

Dear Jacinda Ardern,

Reference: ASE2021102901

I am awaiting a substantive response from your office to this request for information, which is overdue.

Please advise promptly, or I will have to file a complaint with the Ombudsman's office.

Thank you,
ASE