Request for information on ethnic groups
kade made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health did not have the information requested.
      From: kade
      
    
    Dear Ministry of Health,
attn to: Hon Dr Ashley Bloomfield, PM Jacinda Adern, Hon Chris Hipkins
The following request is made
Under the Official Informations Act 1982, 
sections; 4(a)(i); 4(a)(ii); 4(b)
section 5; and
section 3 - Binds the crown to the Act 
Afternoon Team,
I could not find the answers to questions I had amongst the information provided by the MOH with regards to Covid 19. I have emailed the [email address] address provided by the MOH therefore would you guys be so kind in helping me with the answering my request please.
Question 1 - How is a NZ Citizens ethnic status identified by the MOH before utilising it as a statistical resource on the MOH website?
Question 2 - If Maori and Pacific Islanders Make up the largest ethnic group in New Zealand to be at the highest risk of the effects from the Covid 19 virus, Can you please provide the genome sequencing data that backs this up.
note: I understand what genomic sequencing is about, and it would be hard for anyone to tell what ethnic group they belong to without having their personal DNA, and a DNA database to compare it with. Your assistance will be most appreciated.
Kia Ora
Yours faithfully,
Kade
        From: OIA Requests
      
    
    Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
 an automatic reply to let you know we received it.
In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
 than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
 use the Ombudsman's online calculator
 here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
 significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. This
 means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
 regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
 OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
 [2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
 papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
 relating to COVID-19.
Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
 hear from us soon if that is the case here.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [3][email address]
 
 
 
 
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References
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 1. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
 2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
 3. mailto:[email address]
        From: OIA Requests
      
    
    Kia ora Kade,
 
Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
 reference number for your request is: H202203334.  
 
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
 endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
 the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
 timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
 here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
 
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
 significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
 we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
 notify you of an extension of that time frame.
 
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
 get in touch.
 
Ngā mihi
 
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [2][email address]
 
show quoted sections
        From: OIA Requests
      
    
    Tēnā koe Kade  
    
Thank you for your requests under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
 Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 28 February 2022:   
   
               “ How is a NZ Citizens ethnic status identified by the MOH
 before utilising it as a statistical                     resource on the
 MOH website? 
  
If Maori and Pacific Islanders Make up the largest ethnic group in New
 Zealand to be at the highest risk of the effects from the Covid 19 virus,
 Can you please provide the genome sequencing data that backs this up.”  
   
The Ministry does not hold the information relating to part 2 of your
 request; however, I have been advised that this information is more
 closely aligned with the functions of the Institute of Environmental and
 Research (ESR). For this reason, I have decided to transfer part 2
 of your request to ESR under section 14(b)(i) of the Act. You may expect a
 response from them in due course.   
    
Please note, the Ministry will respond to part 1 of your request in due
 course.    
    
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
 review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
 contacted by email at: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
 802 602.   
  
Ngā mihi
 
OIA Services Team
 
[2]Ministry of Health information releases
[3]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
 1. mailto:[email address]
 2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
 3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
        From: OIA Requests
      
    
    Tēnā koe Kade  
    
Thank you for your requests under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
 Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 28 February 2022. As
 advised your requests have been consolidated. You asked:   
   
               “1. How is a NZ Citizens ethnic status identified by the
 MOH before utilising it as a statistical resource on the MOH website? 
The prioritised ethnicity classification system is used by the Ministry.
 This means each person is allocated to a single ethnic group, based on the
 ethnic groups they identify with. Where people identify with more than one
 group, they are assigned in this order of priority: Māori, Pacific
 Peoples, Asian, and European/Other. So, if a person identifies as being
 Māori and New Zealand European, the person is counted as Māori. See [1]Ngā
 tapuae me ngā raraunga: Methods and data sources for further information.
The data categorised by ethnicity come from National Health Index (NHI)
 data collection, linked to data held in the EpiSurv database.
2. If Maori and Pacific Islanders Make up the largest ethnic group in New
 Zealand to be at the highest risk of the effects from the Covid 19 virus,
 Can you please provide the genome sequencing data that backs this up.”  
  
On 18 March 2022, the Ministry notified you that part 2 of your request
 for information is more closely aligned with the functions of the
 Institute of Environmental and Research (ESR). For this reason, I have
 decided to transfer part 2 of your request to ESR under section 14(b)(i)
 of the Act. You may expect a response from them in due course.  
  
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
 review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
 contacted by email at: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
 802 602.   
  
Ngā mihi
 
OIA Services Team
 
[3]Ministry of Health information releases
[4]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
 1. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/h...
 2. mailto:[email address]
 3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
 4. https://covid19.govt.nz/
        From: OIA & Privacy Requests
      
    
    Dear Kade,
 
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information dated
 28 February 2022 to the Ministry of Health who have transferred question
 one and two to ESR on 18 March 2022.
 
ESR will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
 any event no later than 19 April 2022, being 20 working days after the day
 your request was received pursuant to section 15(1) of the Official
 Information Act 1982. If we are unable to respond to your request by 19
 April 2022, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
 
Thank you and regards,
 
Andrew
 
Andrew Scanlon
OIA & Privacy Requests, ESR
Kenepuru Science Centre, 34 Kenepuru Drive, Porirua 5022
E:  [1]OIA&[email address]
W: [2]www.esr.cri.nz
[3]https://en.facebookbrand.com/wp-content/...
[6][IMG]
 
The information contained in this message and/or attachments from ESR is
 intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential and/or
 privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient, any review,
 disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be
 taken in reliance on it is prohibited by ESR. If you have received this
 message in error, please notify the sender immediately.
 This email has been filtered by SMX. For more information visit
 [7]smxemail.com
References
Visible links
 1. mailto:OIA&[email address]
 2. http://www.esr.cri.nz/
 3. https://www.facebook.com/Institute-of-En...
 4. https://twitter.com/ESRNewZealand
 5. https://www.instagram.com/esrnewzealand/
 6. http://www.esr.cri.nz/
 7. http://smxemail.com/
        From: OIA & Privacy Requests
      
    
    Dear Kade,
 
Please find attached our response to your Official Information Act request
 dated 28 February 2022 to the Ministry of Health (reference H202203334),
 who transferred question 2 of your request to ESR on 18 March 2022
 
Thank you and regards,
 
Andrew
 
 
Andrew Scanlon
Kenepuru Science Centre, 34 Kenepuru Drive, Porirua 5022
DDI: 021577302
E:  [1][email address]
W: [2]www.esr.cri.nz
[3]https://en.facebookbrand.com/wp-content/...
[6]ESR logo with PM Award-email PNG
 
 
 
The information contained in this message and/or attachments from ESR is
 intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential and/or
 privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient, any review,
 disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be
 taken in reliance on it is prohibited by ESR. If you have received this
 message in error, please notify the sender immediately.
 This email has been filtered by SMX. For more information visit
 [7]smxemail.com
References
Visible links
 1. mailto:[email address]
 2. http://www.esr.cri.nz/
 3. https://www.facebook.com/Institute-of-En...
 4. https://twitter.com/ESRNewZealand
 5. https://www.instagram.com/esrnewzealand/
 7. http://smxemail.com/
        From: OIA & Privacy Requests
      
    
    Kade
 
As per our discussion yesterday
 
Please feel free to ask any questions that you would like clarification
 on.
 
Kind regards
 
Andrew
 
Andrew Scanlon
Kenepuru Science Centre, 34 Kenepuru Drive, Porirua 5022
DDI: 021577302
E:  [1][email address]
W: [2]www.esr.cri.nz
[3]https://en.facebookbrand.com/wp-content/...
[6]ESR logo with PM Award-email PNG
 
 
From: OIA & Privacy Requests
 Sent: Friday, 25 March 2022 10:25 am
 To: [FOI #18718 email]
 Subject: ESR response to your Official Information Act request
 
Dear Kade,
 
Please find attached our response to your Official Information Act request
 dated 28 February 2022 to the Ministry of Health (reference H202203334),
 who transferred question 2 of your request to ESR on 18 March 2022
 
Thank you and regards,
 
Andrew
 
 
Andrew Scanlon
Kenepuru Science Centre, 34 Kenepuru Drive, Porirua 5022
DDI: 021577302
E:  [7][email address]
W: [8]www.esr.cri.nz
[9]https://en.facebookbrand.com/wp-content/...
[12]ESR logo with PM Award-email PNG
 
 
 
The information contained in this message and/or attachments from ESR is
 intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential and/or
 privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient, any review,
 disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be
 taken in reliance on it is prohibited by ESR. If you have received this
 message in error, please notify the sender immediately.
 This email has been filtered by SMX. For more information visit
 [13]smxemail.com
References
Visible links
 1. mailto:[email address]
 2. http://www.esr.cri.nz/
 3. https://www.facebook.com/Institute-of-En...
 4. https://twitter.com/ESRNewZealand
 5. https://www.instagram.com/esrnewzealand/
 7. mailto:[email address]
 8. http://www.esr.cri.nz/
 9. https://www.facebook.com/Institute-of-En...
 10. https://twitter.com/ESRNewZealand
 11. https://www.instagram.com/esrnewzealand/
 13. http://smxemail.com/
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