22 December 2021
Ref: DOIA 2122-1068
M.R.M
Email:
[FYI request #17460 email]
Dear M.R.M
Thank you for your email of 5 November 2021 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(the Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
“In October 2021 it was announced that "Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton, one of three MIQ managed
isolation facilities in Waikato, will move to housing local community cases, enabling them to stay
in the region." Against this backdrop, it was reported on 3 November 2021 that; "Nearly 700
people are self isolating at home in Auckland, with the total number of active cases in the region
now more than 1900."
Please provide me with all of the relevant information regarding the selection criteria being used
to decide - in the Waikato region - which Covid-19 infected cases are required to isolate at the
Amohia - Community Isolation Quarantine facility (previously called Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton)
and which Covid-19 infected cases can self-isolate in their homes.
Also, please provide me with the exact number of people - in the Waikato region - who have been
allowed to self-isolation in their homes to-date, and, what health sector agency or agencies is or
are responsible for caring for these cases?
In addition, please provide me with full disclosure information regarding the two other Hamilton
managed isolation facilities (Ibis Tainui and Jet Park Hamilton) as follows:-
1) Are they still being used as a managed isolation facilities only, and, if so are cases still being
transported to Auckland quarantine facilities when they have tested positive for Covid-19 during
the 14 day stay period? It not, where are the Covid-19 infected cases moved to?
2) What has the occupancy rate been for all rooms at the abovementioned two other Hamilton
managed isolation facilities for the 12 months from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021.
3) What has the occupancy rate been for all rooms at the Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton for the
period from 1 November 2020 until the date its use was changed to a "community isolation
quarantine facility".
4) How much has it cost to-date to manage and operate the Ibis Tainui and Jet Park Hamilton
since the date they were first used as managed isolation facilities until 31 October 2021.
2122-1068
5) How much has it cost to-date to provide military, police and security guard services at the Ibis
Tainui and Jet Park Hamilton since the date they were first used as managed isolation facilities
until 31 October 2021.
6) How much has it cost to-date to manage and operate the Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton since the
date it was first used as a managed isolation facility until the date its use was changed to a
"community isolation quarantine facility".
7) How much has it cost to-date to provide military, police and security guard services at the
Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton since the date it was first used as a managed isolation facility until
the date its use was changed to a "community isolation quarantine facility."
8) How much has it cost in total to-date to do necessary building alterations and improvements -
including installation of new air conditioning units, etc. - to the Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton so
that it could be used as a "community isolation quarantine facility", and, specify what alterations
and improvements were done, as well as their individual and respective costs.”
On 15 November 2021, questions five and seven as it relates to costs for New Zealand Police were
partially transferred to New Zealand Police under section 14 of the Act, as the information sought is more
closely connected with its function.
On 3 December 2021, parts a and b of your request (the information requested that precedes the
numbered questions) was transferred to Waikato District Health Board under section 14 of the Act, as the
information sought is more closely connected with its function.
On 3 December 2021, the due date for response was extended by 15 working days, as consultations
necessary to make a decision on the request could not be completed within the original timeframe.
The remaining parts of your request, parts 1-8, are addressed below.
1) Are they still being used as a managed isolation facilities only, and, if so are cases still being
transported to Auckland quarantine facilities when they have tested positive for Covid-19 during the 14
day stay period? It not, where are the Covid-19 infected cases moved to?
•
Ibis Tainui and Jet Park Hamilton are being used as Managed Isolation Facilities for border
returnees.
•
Distinction Hamilton is the dedicated quarantine facility for community cases and community
close contacts in the Waikato (please note: this facility has been renamed ‘Amohia’ which is a
term gifted by Iwi and the Maori King to reflect its change to a community facility).
•
Positive border cases in the Waikato region are transferred to Jet Park Auckland. Amohia is to be
used for local community cases only as per an agreement with local Iwi.
2) What has the occupancy rate been for all rooms at the abovementioned two other Hamilton
managed isolation facilities for the 12 months from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021.
3) What has the occupancy rate been for all rooms at the Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton for the period
from 1 November 2020 until the date its use was changed to a "community isolation quarantine
facility".
In relation to the above two questions, please refer to the attached document (attachment 1 – Room
Occupancy) which contains the requested information.
4) How much has it cost to-date to manage and operate the Ibis Tainui and Jet Park Hamilton since the
date they were first used as managed isolation facilities until 31 October 2021.
The Ministry needs the ability to carry out commercial activity, including negotiations, for MIQ on an
ongoing basis, both with existing MIQ facility providers (hotels) and potential facilities (hotels not part of
the MIQ network). The release of the information sought would hinder the commercial operations of
MIQ, including its ability to negotiate with existing/new providers.
The release of the requested information could also impact the commercial position of the hotels MIQ is
engaged in commercial activities with.
Therefore, the requested information is withheld under the following sections of the Act:
section 9(2)(b)(ii)
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
section 9(2)(i)
to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation
holding the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage,
commercial activities
section 9(2)(j)
enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation
holding the information to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage,
negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations).
While we are unable to furnish the individual costs you requested, we can provide aggregated data on
the cost of running facilities and MIQ more broadly. As of 31 August 2021, the committed costs from 1
September 2021 to 30 June 2022 to the New Zealand Government for MIQ hotels is $136,198,512
(excluding GST). This is based on the agreed 90-day notice period MIQ has with hotels.
Currently, the weekly cost for operational support and delivery of services for the MIQ system is
approximately $14.5 million.
The total cost of MIQ up to 31 August 2021 is $915.91 million. This amount relates to the Ministry’s costs
only and includes contracts with the hotels being used as MIQ Facilities, transporting guests to and from
airports and facilities, security and staff employed in the MIQ Branch of the Ministry (whether front-line
or in the Ministry’s head office in Wellington). It does not include the cost to pay other frontline
Government-MIQ workers, such as those working for the relevant District Health Boards, the New
Zealand Defence Force, the New Zealand Police, and the New Zealand Aviation Security Service.
5) How much has it cost to-date to provide military, police and security guard services at the Ibis
Tainui and Jet Park Hamilton since the date they were first used as managed isolation facilities until 31
October 2021.
In relation to costs for New Zealand Police, this part of the question has been transferred to New Zealand
Police for response.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has advised it had no information it could provide. By way of
context, it advised the information requested does not exist in a readily retrievable format and a
breakdown cannot be provided. NZDF would have to identify each individual posted, calculate the portion
of their salary for the time they were posted to MIQ, and then generate incidental costs per individual.
In relation to security costs met by the Ministry, costs for individual facilities are not disclosed as they are
commercially sensitive. Therefore the information requested is refused under section 9(2)(i), to enable a
Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding the information to carry out,
without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.
However, the Ministry can advise that across the MIQ network from 1 July 2021 to 30 November 2021 a
total of $32.78 million was spent on security.
6) How much has it cost to-date to manage and operate the Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton since the date
it was first used as a managed isolation facility until the date its use was changed to a "community
isolation quarantine facility".
Please refer to the response for question four.
7) How much has it cost to-date to provide military, police and security guard services at the
Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton since the date it was first used as a managed isolation facility until the
date its use was changed to a "community isolation quarantine facility."
Please refer to the response for question five.
8) How much has it cost in total to-date to do necessary building alterations and improvements -
including installation of new air conditioning units, etc. - to the Distinction (Hotel) Hamilton so that it
could be used as a "community isolation quarantine facility", and, specify what alterations and
improvements were done, as well as their individual and respective costs.”
As noted in the response to question four, the Ministry needs the ability to carry out commercial activity,
including negotiations, for MIQ on an ongoing basis, both with existing MIQ facility providers (hotels) and
potential facilities (hotels not part of the MIQ network). The release of the information sought would
hinder the commercial operations of MIQ, including its ability to negotiate with existing/new providers.
The release of the requested information could also impact the commercial position of the hotels MIQ is
engaged in commercial activities with.
Therefore, the requested information is withheld under the following sections of the Act:
section 9(2)(b)(ii)
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
section 9(2)(i)
to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation
holding the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage,
commercial activities
section 9(2)(j)
enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation
holding the information to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage,
negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations).
Please note that as of August 2021, the total cost paid for upgrades across the MIQ network was $11.4
million. This figure includes upgrades to support secure and safe MIQ operations (covered by the
Ministry), and meet Infection, Prevention and Control measures (covered by Ministry of Health). CCTV
installation and air filtration systems upgrades account for the bulk of the $11.4 million spent.
I do not consider that the withholding of information from this response is outweighed by public interest
considerations in making the information available.
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
Chris Scahill
General Manager, Operational Delivery and Practice
Managed Isolation and Quarantine