Information on the disestablishment / phasing out of pre-departure test requirement to enter NZ for NZ citizens
C Alice made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
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From: C Alice
Dear Ministry of Health,
Please provide information held regarding:
1. the expected timeframes for the disestablishment or phasing out of the requirement for New Zealand citizens to obtain a pre-departure tests prior to reentering New Zealand following international travel; and
2. public health advice relied upon or relating to the decision to maintain this entry requirement currently, particularly in light of the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community in New Zealand.
Yours faithfully
Courtney
From: OIA Requests
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Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [3][email address]
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2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Courtenay,
Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202205713.
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]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 Team
[2]Ministry of Health information releases
[3]Unite against COVID-19
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From: C Alice <[FOI #19223 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 27 April 2022 20:44
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Information on the
disestablishment / phasing out of pre-departure test requirement to enter
NZ for NZ citizens
Dear Ministry of Health,
Please provide information held regarding:
1. the expected timeframes for the disestablishment or phasing out of the
requirement for New Zealand citizens to obtain a pre-departure tests prior
to reentering New Zealand following international travel; and
2. public health advice relied upon or relating to the decision to
maintain this entry requirement currently, particularly in light of the
prevalence of COVID-19 in the community in New Zealand.
Yours faithfully
Courtney
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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
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[FOI #19223 email]
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References
Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
4. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
5. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Courtney,
Thank you for your request for official information, received on 27
April 2022 requesting:
“1. the expected timeframes for the disestablishment or phasing out of the
requirement for New Zealand citizens to obtain a pre-departure tests prior
to reentering New Zealand following international travel; and
2. public health advice relied upon or relating to the decision to
maintain this entry requirement currently, particularly in light of the
prevalence of COVID-19 in the community in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) as further consultation is required.
You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 22 June
2022.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[1]Ministry of Health information releases
[2]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: C Alice
Dear Ministry of Health
To assist my understanding of the extension reasons and timeframes provided, and my decision to seek Ombudsman review of this decision to extend under section 28 of the Act, please urgently provide further information / detail regarding:
1. the nature of the "further consultations" required to be undertaken before the Ministry is able to make a decision regarding this request (i.e., internal review and sign-off vs external, escalation, standard vs non-standard);
2. when and why the need for this "further consultation" was identified, and whether the consultation process has commenced at all (i.e., have internal sign-offs been obtained and it is now just unexpected, non-standard consultations that remain outstanding?); and
2. why the Ministry considers a further period of 20 working days is ‘a reasonable period of time having regard to the circumstances’ (noting that this timeframe appears to be disproportionately long in the circumstances).
I would also like to formally request under section 12(3) of the Act that this information request is now treated with urgency on the basis that: (i) there is very strong public interest in the timely release of this information and FYI.org.nz is an appropriate public forum for that disclosure; (ii) given media / opposition / industry interest in this information of late, this information should not require extensive collation - it should be to hand; (3) I expect this is not the only request the Ministry has received relating to the requested information, and (4) in any event, key governmental stakeholders should have already been consulting on the anticipated release of this information (in one form or another) given public interest in this information.
I look forward to your prompt response. If I do not hear from you tomorrow, to ensure there is no delay in the information being provided to me, I will refer this to Ombudsman for review on the basis that the level of detail currently provided to support the extension is insufficient for me to understand whether the extension is reasonable / compliant with the Act in the circumstances.
Yours sincerely,
C
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Courtney
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) on 27 April 2022 for information relating to the disestablishing
pre-departure testing.
Pursuant to section 15(1)(a) of the Act, the Ministry is writing to advise
you that a decision has been made on your request; however, it will take
us some time to prepare the information for release. As it stands, we will
be providing you excerpts from four documents that are within scope of
your request. The Ministry is currently processing your request and we
endeavour to provide you with a response as soon as possible.
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
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: OIA Requests
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H202205713 Response.pdf
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Kia ora Courtney
Please find attached the response to your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
U[2]nite against COVID-19
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
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