URGENT: Protection Framework and Right to Justice
Ashleigh Fechney made this Official Information request to Chris Hipkins
Response to this request is long overdue. By law Chris Hipkins should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: Ashleigh Fechney
Dear Chris Hipkins,
I am concerned that New Zealand’s Courtrooms and Tribunals are not “designed premises” for the purposes of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protections Framework) Order 2021.
This means that a person could be lawfully refused entry to New Zealand's judicial systems if they are not vaccinated: including the District Court, Family Court, High Court, Employment Relations Authority, and Employment Court.
I am gravely concerned about this limitation on the right to justice. These judicial systems will be integral to the application of the Protections Framework, and it appears that those who are not vaccinated, whose rights are already impacted by the COVID-19 response, may then be limited in their right to access justice.
Please urgently supply the following information under the Official Information Act 1982:
- Any briefing paper or advice paper in relation to the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protections Framework) Order 2021.
- Whether there was any consideration to the right to justice.
I understand that a decision on a request for information under the Official Information Act 1982 should be made within 20 working days of receiving that request.
However, in the circumstances, I request that this request be treated as urgent:
- The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework) Order 2021 comes into force at 11.59pm on 2 December 2021.
- Legal representatives are required to provide advice on the effect of the Protection Framework, and it is imperative that the people understand whether, or not, they will be able to access their right to justice to challenge not only the Protection Framework.
I look forward to receiving your urgent response.
Yours faithfully,
Ashleigh Fechney
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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...
hide quoted sections
From: Ashleigh Fechney
Dear Chris Hipkins,
I understand that the response date for this request was 20 January 2022. Can you please urgently provide an update on this?
Yours faithfully,
Ashleigh Fechney
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
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.
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. 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 [10]make an
enquiry here.
We appreciate your patience.
Thanks again.
Authorised by Chris Hipkins MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/...
hide quoted sections
From: Ashleigh Fechney
Dear Chris Hipkins,
I understand that the response date for this request was 20 January 2022. My previous message was ignored. Can you please urgently provide an update on this?
Yours faithfully,
Ashleigh Fechney
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
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 3 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
Offensive? Unsuitable?
Requests for personal information and vexatious requests are not considered valid requests for Official Information (read more).
If you believe this request is not suitable, you can report it for attention by the site administrators
Report this request