Kia ora

 

Thank you for taking the time to write to Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for
COVID-19 Response, Minister of Education, Minister for the Public Sector
and Leader of the House.

We are receiving a significant amount of correspondence at the moment and,
although your email will be carefully considered and noted, it is not
possible to respond to each individual email. However, please note that
this is an automatic response and we will endeavour to respond to your
individual queries as soon as we can.

You can find the latest information and guidance about Alert Levels at
[1]https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and...
The locations of interest are set out
at [2]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
encourage anyone who has been at one of the locations of interest at the
time specified to self-isolate and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453. You
can find the nearest testing centre to you
at [3]https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/.

We appreciate that this is a challenging time. If you need to talk, you
can call or text 1737 at any time. Mental health and wellbeing resources
are also available
at [4]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
about the financial support available to individuals and businesses can be
found at [5]https://covid19.govt.nz/business-and-mon....

We also understand that there are several other aspects to the response
that are very important to people. You can find more information about:

o Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ)
at [6]https://www.miq.govt.nz/, including how to request an emergency
allocation
at [7]https://www.miq.govt.nz/travel-to-new-ze...
make a complaint or request a review of your application by
emailing [8]https://www.miq.govt.nz/about/contact-us....
o Travel with Australia
at [9]https://covid19.govt.nz/travel/quarantin...
you are in Australia, please register
at [10]https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/ and if it is an emergency,
contact the Consulate on +64 99 20 20 20.
o Vaccines at [11]https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/, including
how to book your vaccine
at [12]https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/... by calling 0800 28
29 26.
o Vaccine data and statistics
at [13]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
Medsafe’s vaccine safety monitoring reports
at [14]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...
o The Government’s plan to reconnect New Zealand with the rest of the
world
at [16]https://covid19.govt.nz/reconnecting-new....

Please remember to take care, and be kind. We have beaten COVID-19 before,
and we can do it again.

Ngā mihi,

Office of Hon Chris Hipkins

Minister for COVID-19 Response | Minister of Education | Minister for the
Public Sector | Leader of the House | MP for Remutaka

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References

Visible links
1. https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
3. https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/business-and-mon...
6. https://www.miq.govt.nz/
7. https://www.miq.govt.nz/travel-to-new-ze...
8. https://www.miq.govt.nz/about/contact-us...
9. https://covid19.govt.nz/travel/quarantin...
10. https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
11. https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/
12. https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/
13. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
14. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...
15. file:///C:/Users/TasolaM/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/556O8F80/Updated%20Document1.docx
16. https://covid19.govt.nz/reconnecting-new...

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Thank you for your email.

 

Please accept this as acknowledgement that your email has been received by
my office.

 

My office is closed from Thursday 23 December 2021, reopening Monday 10
January 2022, so there may be a delay in responding to your query.

 

In the meantime, you can find more information below:

 

General COVID-19 information and testing

 

All the latest COVID-19 information can be found at [1]covid19.govt.nz

 

Locations of interest [2]can be found here. You can also call Healthline
free on 0800 611 116 for health advice and information, including where to
get tested.

 

Vaccination

 

To get your COVID-19 vaccination head to
[3]bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz or to the [4]Healthpoint website to
find a vaccination site near you.

 

For help with My Vaccine Pass you can call 0800 222 478 or head to
[5]mycovidrecord.health.nz to get it online.

Managed Isolation

Anyone with queries regarding MIQ should contact +64 4 931 5720 if you’re
overseas (rates will apply) or 0800 476 647 if you’re in New Zealand.

You can also submit an enquiry via the [6]MIQ website.

 

Anyone with queries about changes to flights should
email [7][email address] with a copy of their original flight
ticket and their voucher, and details of the new flight number. This email
is monitored 24/7.

MIQ will continue to process [8]Emergency Allocation and [9]Exemption
requests throughout the holiday period. If you require an update on an
existing application then you can view the live status of your application
via the MIQ customer portal at any time.

There are still rooms to be released for January, February and March 2022.
Future room releases will be announced on the MIQ website and social media
platforms.

COVID-19 Protection Framework

 

If you have questions about the traffic light system, you can [10]make an
enquiry here.    

We appreciate your patience. 

Thanks again.
Authorised by Chris Hipkins MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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References

Visible links
1. https://covid19.govt.nz/
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
3. https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/
4. https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19-v...
5. https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/
6. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. https://www.miq.govt.nz/travel-to-new-ze...
9. https://www.miq.govt.nz/being-in-managed...
10. https://covid19.govt.nz/about-this-site/...

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Thank you for your email.

 

Please accept this as acknowledgement that your email has been received by
my office.

 

General COVID-19 information and testing

 

All the latest COVID-19 information can be found at [1]covid19.govt.nz

 

Locations of interest [2]can be found here. You can also call Healthline
free on 0800 611 116 for health advice and information, including where to
get tested.

 

We are currently in phase 2 of the response to Omicron. You can find more
information about what that means [3]here.  

 

Vaccination

 

To get your COVID-19 vaccination head
to [4]bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz or to the [5]Healthpoint website to
find a vaccination site near you.

 

For help with My Vaccine Pass you can call 0800 222 478 or head
to [6]mycovidrecord.health.nz to get it online.

Managed Isolation

The Government has announced its 5-step plan to re-open New Zealand
borders, commencing 27 February. Please carefully read the
steps [7]here as you may not be required to enter MIQ depending on the
date and location you wish to travel from, and visa requirements.

 

Anyone with queries regarding MIQ should contact +64 4 931 5720 if you’re
overseas (rates will apply) or 0800 476 647 if you’re in New Zealand.

You can also submit an enquiry via the [8]MIQ website.

 

Anyone with queries about changes to flights should
email [9][email address] with a copy of their original flight
ticket and their voucher, and details of the new flight number. This email
is monitored 24/7.

MIQ will continue to process [10]Emergency
Allocation and [11]Exemption requests. If you require an update on an
existing application then you can view the live status of your application
via the MIQ customer portal at any time.

Future room releases will be announced on the MIQ website and social media
platforms.

COVID-19 Protection Framework

 

If you have questions about the traffic light system, you can [12]make an
enquiry here.    

We appreciate your patience. 

Thanks again.
Authorised by Chris Hipkins MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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References

Visible links
1. https://covid19.govt.nz/
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay...
4. https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/
5. https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19-v...
6. https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/
7. https://covid19.govt.nz/international-tr...
8. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.miq.govt.nz/travel-to-new-ze...
11. https://www.miq.govt.nz/being-in-managed...
12. https://covid19.govt.nz/about-this-site/...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Matthew,

  

Thank you for your request for official information, received on 20
November 2021:

 

“1. The number of people in the New Zealand contact tracing system.

2. The criteria for inclusion in the contact tracing system.

3. Advice you have sought on how an arrival to New Zealand could gain
entry into the contract tracing system.

              4. Advice you have received on how an arrival to New Zealand
could gain entry into the contract tracing system.

              5. Advice you have received on any operational or
administrative barriers to requiring all arrivals in New Zealand to enter
into the contract tracing system.

             6. Advice you have received on what cumulative risk those
operational or administrative barriers would add to people already in New
Zealand in terms of becoming (a) infected and (b) seriously ill with Covid
19.

             7. Any other information on which your statement of 17
November quoted above was based”.

We are contacting you specifically regarding part one of your request: In
accordance with section 18B of the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
as the way your request is currently worded, we require some clarification
in order for my Office to consider providing you with the information
requested.

 

We want to clarify if you are seeking the number of COVID-19 cases or
contacts in the contact tracing system, as some data will include people
who have been both a COVID-19 case and contact, and therefore may be
counted twice. Additionally, please note that the current National
Investigation and Tracing Centre only has data and records from July 2021,
as the system was redesigned. 

 

If it is possible for you to narrow the scope of part one of your request,
by specificity or time frame, we may be able to provide you with
information.   

   

Please respond as soon as possible so that we can consider your refinement
in our response to your request.  

   

We look forward to receiving your response.”

 

Ngā mihi,

 

 

 

[1]cid:image001.jpg@01D433B3.8E157340 Daniel
Martin
Health
Private
Secretary

Office of
Hon Chris
Hipkins   

Minister
for
COVID-19
Response |
Minister
of
Education
| Minister
for the
Public
Service |
Leader of
the House

Parliament
Buildings,
Private
Bag 18041,
Wellington
6160, New
Zealand

 

 

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

From: Matthew Hooton
[[2]mailto:[FOI #17635 email]]

Sent: Wednesday, 23 February 2022 5:10 PM

To: C Hipkins (MIN) <[3][Chris Hipkins request email]>

Subject: Re: Official Information request - Inclusion of international
arrivals in contact tracing system

 

Dear Chris Hipkins,

 

This request is now long overdue. Could you please advise when you will be
replying. Thank you.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Matthew Hooton

 

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

 

Thank you for your email.

 

 

 

Please accept this as acknowledgement that your email has been received
by  my office.

 

 

 

My office is closed from Thursday 23 December 2021, reopening Monday 10 
January 2022, so there may be a delay in responding to your query.

 

 

 

In the meantime, you can find more information below:

 

 

 

General COVID-19 information and testing

 

 

 

All the latest COVID-19 information can be found at [1]covid19.govt.nz

 

 

 

Locations of interest [2]can be found here. You can also call Healthline 
free on 0800 611 116 for health advice and information, including where
to  get tested.

 

 

 

Vaccination

 

 

 

To get your COVID-19 vaccination head to 
[3]bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz or to the [4]Healthpoint website to 
find a vaccination site near you.

 

 

 

For help with My Vaccine Pass you can call 0800 222 478 or head to 
[5]mycovidrecord.health.nz to get it online.

 

Managed Isolation

 

Anyone with queries regarding MIQ should contact +64 4 931 5720 if you’re 
overseas (rates will apply) or 0800 476 647 if you’re in New Zealand.

 

You can also submit an enquiry via the [6]MIQ website.

 

 

 

Anyone with queries about changes to flights should  email [7][email
address] with a copy of their original flight  ticket and their voucher,
and details of the new flight number. This email  is monitored 24/7.

 

MIQ will continue to process [8]Emergency Allocation and [9]Exemption 
requests throughout the holiday period. If you require an update on an 
existing application then you can view the live status of your
application  via the MIQ customer portal at any time.

 

There are still rooms to be released for January, February and March 2022.

Future room releases will be announced on the MIQ website and social
media  platforms.

 

COVID-19 Protection Framework

 

 

 

If you have questions about the traffic light system, you can [10]make an 
enquiry here.    

 

We appreciate your patience. 

 

Thanks again.

Authorised by Chris Hipkins MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #17635 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[5]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.

 

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References

Visible links
2. mailto:[FOI #17635 email]
3. mailto:[Chris Hipkins request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #17635 email]
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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Kia ora,

I am currenlty on leave, I will be back at on the 4th of April.

In the interim you can contact [email address] up until
the 24thth of March or [email address] after that.

Many Thanks,

Daniel

 

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