133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
23 June 2022
Chris McCashin
By email: [FYI request #18841 email]
Ref: H202205723
Tēnā koe Chris
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health (the Ministry) on 27 April 2022 for full copies of the following documents, which were
initially provided to you in your previous request, reference: H202203833:
27 January 2022 Memo: Adapting COVID-19 Surveillance, Intelligence and Contact
Tracing Reporting and Data Management for Omicron.
15 February 2022 Memo: COVID-19 Reporting: Phase 2 of the Omicron Strategy
18 March 2022 Memo: COVID-19 Hospitalisation Rate and Mortality Data
Please find the documents requested attached to this letter.
Please note, many of the issues with data identified in this memo have been addressed and the
Ministry will continue to improve and update data released on COVID-19 as it becomes
available.
You also requested information around misinformation and COVID-19:
You also stated that "Misinformation" is in the public sphere?
Can the Ministry of Health please provide the definition of "Misinformation"
Would a verified Pfizer document be classed as misinformation? - their own document
states that
Adverse Events Reported > 2% of cases - Infestations and Infections - COVID-19
Covid-19 as per Pfizer's own reporting has been documented as being a adverse reaction
to the vaccine. What part of this information is not understood by the Ministry of Health?
How can you say this is misinformation when it comes from their documents?
While the Act allows people and organisations in New Zealand to ask Ministers and government
agencies for information, it is not a vehicle to debate public issues with agencies. There is no
requirement under the Act to create new information, compile information an agency does not
hold, respond to hypothetical questions, or provide or prove an opinion. The Act does not
support requests where statements or opinions or hypothetical questions are put to an agency
for response, couched as a request for official information. Therefore, these parts of your
request are refused under section 18(g) on the grounds that the information requested is not
held by the Ministry.
However, the Ministry is aware of misinformation and disinformation around the efficacy of the
vaccine. We encourage people to only go to trusted sources of information when seeking to find
out more about COVID-19 and the vaccine such as their GP, the
Ministry of Health’s website,
covid19.govt.nz, karawhiua.nz, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, or health providers. It is
important for people to protect themselves and others from the disease by following the latest
health advice.
If people see any examples of misinformation about COVID-19 or the vaccine, whether it’s
online or a physical document, we encourage them to report it to CERT NZ through their
website or calling 0800 2378 69.
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:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Gill Hall
Group Lead, Intelligence, Surveillance and Knowledge
Interim Public Health Agency, Ministry of Health
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: Documents for release
#
Date
Title
Decision on release
1
27 January 2022
Memo: Adapting COVID-19 Surveillance,
Released in full.
Intelligence and Contact Tracing Reporting
and Data Management for Omicron.
2
15 February 2022
Memo: COVID-19 Reporting: Phase 2 of the
Omicron Strategy
3
18 March 2022
Memo: COVID-19 Hospitalisation Rate and
Mortality Data
Page 3 of 3
