19 January 2022
Ref: DOIA 2122-1036
Christopher Auld
[FYI request #17434 email]
Dear Christopher
Thank you for your email to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on 3 November
2021, requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
1. All documentation relating to the processes and procedures for managing persons isolated at home
under the ‘Overseas Arrivals At Home MIQ trial’ currently underway. Please ensure this includes,
but is not limited to, the documentation of processes and procedures for;
a.
The assessment of individual risk-factors for compliance with the requirements of at home
isolation. Please ensure that you include details as to whether assessment inquires as to
criminal convictions or membership of a gang (as gang is defined in s2 of the Prohibition of
Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013)
b.
Testing for Covid-19 including how samples are to be collected.
c.
Monitoring for health symptoms including any diagnostic instruments such as
thermometers provided to isolated persons.
d.
Monitoring for ‘stay home’ compliance including any technology used to support this.
e.
Monitoring for ‘no visitors’ compliance including any technology used to support this
f.
Procedures to be followed if an isolated person tests positive for Covid-19 including how
they are evaluated against the criteria for quarantining at home as a positive case.
2. All documentation relating to the processes and procedures for persons who have tested positive
for Covid-19 and who are quarantined at home. Please ensure this includes, but is not limited to,
the documentation of processes and procedures for;
a.
The assessment of individual and/or group risk-factors for compliance with at home
quarantine. Please ensure that you include details as to whether assessment inquires as to
criminal convictions or membership of a gang (as gang is defined in s2 of the Prohibition of
Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013)
b.
Determining whether an individual or group is to be quarantined qualifies for at home
quarantine or will be moved to an MIQ facility
c.
Testing for Covid-19 including how samples are to be collected.
d.
Monitoring for health symptoms including any diagnostic instruments such as
thermometers provided to isolated persons.
e.
Monitoring for ‘stay home’ compliance including any technology used to support this.
f.
Monitoring for ‘no visitors’ compliance including any technology used to support this
g.
Determining that an individual or group is to be moved to an MIQ facility based on any
change in health status or non-compliance with the requirements of at home quarantine
As per our communication with you on 1 December 2021, MBIE can only provide a response to points a, d
and e of part 1 of your request. We have liaised with the Ministry of Health who have confirmed they will
be responding to the remainder of your request, including the entirety of part 2, as the requested
information is more closely connected with their functions.
Question 1a
In applying for the Self-Isolation Pilot (SIP), each participant had to be named by their employer in an
Expression of Interest, and, if selected in the ballot, the participant then had to make declarations and sign
a self-isolation plan agreeing to all the conditions of self-isolation including compliance and monitoring.
I have attached the documents
Web Page Content as at 7 October which details the eligibility criteria of the
SIP and the document
Self-isolation Plan in response to your request.
Question 1d
Please find attached the document
Manage regular and random compliance monitoring which is the
Standard Operating Procedure used to monitor all SIP participants using regular and random phone-based
checks. Please note, the document refers to self-isolation for a period of 14 days. This period was shortened
to 10 days of self-isolation from 14 November 2021.
Some information has been withheld under section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the Act as the withholding of the
information is necessary to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection of such
Ministers, members of organisations, officers, and employees from improper pressure or harassment.
In terms of section 9(1) of the Act, I am satisfied that, in the circumstances, the withholding of this
information is not outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable to make the information
available in the public interest.
Question 1e
I can confirm that there is no specific monitoring regarding the ‘
no visitors’ compliance of the SIP. However,
I note that in the
Self-Isolation Plan, participants must agree to not allow any visitors to enter the premises,
aside from medical staff for testing purposes and emergency or other essential services if required. It is an
offence under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine) Order 2020 not to comply
with the requirements (which include no visitors).
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information to
make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Christina Sophocleous-Jones
General Manager, Self-Isolation Pilot
Managed Isolation and Quarantine
