4 March 2022
Stella Hart
[FYI request #18297 email]
Ref: OIA-2021/22-0923
Dear Stella Hart
Official Information Act request relating to kawakawa balm
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request partially transferred to the
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) from the Ministry of Health on 1 February
2022. You requested:
My requests are focused on the advice to treat a sore throat caused by a Covid infection with
Kawakawa Balm and are for the following:-
1. Any medical evidence such as studies or scientific/medical review held by the
Ministry of Health or any other agency, body or Ministry, in particular the Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
2. If there is no such evidence I request the Government Policy that governs the release
of medical advice to the public.
3. Documents or official policy that would allow DPMC to write such material, noting that
the DPMC was the author of the above document.
4. Any advice received by the DPMC and particularly Rory McKenzie of that Office to
support the inclusion of Kawakawa Balm as a response to a sore throat caused by a
Covid infection.
5. Disclosure as to Rory McKenzie's formal qualifications and those qualifications of
any public servant who has made written advice in public communications as to such
treatment.
6. Any correspondence with producers of Kawakawa Balms as to the use of the Balm
for such treatment.
7. Any report, communications, policy, consideration or direction regarding the ability of
beneficiaries to access this treatment with respect to cost
DPMC has accepted partial transfer of question 1, and the transfer of questions 3, 4 and 5.
Response to your request
I am responding to the parts of your request for information held by DPMC. The rest of your
request will be responded to by the Ministry of Health. I note that DPMC does not have a role
in providing medical advice of any kind.
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4489089
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
I am declining your first question for ‘a
ny medical evidence such as studies or
scientific/medical review held by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’ under
section 18(e) of the Act as the document alleged to contain the information requested does
not exist.
With regards to question 3, for ‘
Documents or official policy that would allow DPMC to write
such material, noting that the DPMC was the author of the above document, it is important to
note that this suggestion is to alleviate symptoms, and not cure a case of COVID-19. I
reiterate that DPMC does not provide health advice. Any health advice present in the
document was supplied by the Ministry of Health. I am declining this part of your request
under section 18(e) of the Act as the document alleged to contain the information requested
does not exist.
I am declining question 4, for ‘
Any advice received by the DPMC and particularly Rory
McKenzie of that Office to support the inclusion of Kawakawa Balm as a response to a sore
throat caused by a Covid infection’’ under section 18(e) of the Act as the document alleged to
contain the information requested does not exist.
With regards to question 5 for
‘Disclosure as to Rory McKenzie's formal qualifications and
those qualifications of any public servant who has made written advice in public
communications as to such treatment’ I am withholding this information
under section 9(2)(a)
as this is necessary to protect the privacy of individuals.
I would reiterate that the suggestion to use Kawakawa balm is in order to treat symptoms
and is not advice regarding a cure for COVID-19.
In making my decision, I have taken the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the
Act into account.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s website.
Yours sincerely
Cheryl Barnes
Deputy Chief Executive, COVID-19 Response
4489089
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