Did the WHO provide advance warning of the pandemic?

Athina Andonatou made this Official Information request to National Emergency Management Agency

The request was partially successful.

From: Athina Andonatou

Dear Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management,
It is come to my attention that the World Health Organisation may have instructed our Government to prepare for an imminent coronavirus pandemic. As the truth is hard to find at this time, I am requesting all documentation, all communications and all reports between:
1) the Government and WHO
2) The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management and The WHO
3) The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management and the Prime Minister
For the period covering 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020

Yours faithfully,
Athina Andonatou

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From: Emergency Management [NEMA]

Thank you for contacting the general enquiries email at the National
Emergency Management Agency. Please note, as this email inbox is not
monitored seven days per week we will get back to you within two working
days.  Thank you for your patience….
Enquiries about COVID-19
Visit covid19.govt.nz<https://covid19.govt.nz/> to learn the simple steps
you can take to unite against COVID-19 and slow its spread. You can also
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Remember: If life or property is threatened, call 111 for Police, Fire or
Ambulance.
 The contacts below may help you find what you're looking for:
•        Local/regional enquiries: Contact your Local Civil Defence
Emergency Management
Group<http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/find-you...>
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/ Twitter: @NZcivildefence
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From: Information [DPMC]
National Emergency Management Agency

[IN-CONFIDENCE]

Kia ora

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 which was received on 22 May 2022, copied below. A response will be provided in accordance with the Act.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) may publish the response to your Official Information Act (OIA) request.

When you are provided with a response to this request, you will be informed about whether the response to your OIA request will be published. If DPMC does publish the response to your OIA request, personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed. This publication process does not apply to extension letters or transfers.

Ngā mihi,

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

E    [email address]

The information contained in this email message is for the attention of the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received this message in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

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From: Information [DPMC]
National Emergency Management Agency


Attachment image001.png
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Attachment DPMCOIA Transfer OIA 2021 22 1358 Andonatou NEMA PMO and WHO Comms and Reports Athina Andonatou Part1.pdf
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[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora koe,

 

Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E    [1][email address]
 
 
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

 

 

Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
Link: [5]colorSchemeMapping

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Athina,  

  

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202207345.  

  

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 Team 

  

[2]Ministry of Health information releases 

[3]Unite against COVID-19 

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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/

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Anthina,  

 

Thank you for your request to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 1
June 2022 for:  

 

“all documentation, all communications and all reports between 

1) the Government and WHO” 

 

As your request currently stands, the information that you have requested
would require a substantial amount of time to collate. It would also
involve a manual search across a number of teams within the Ministry ​of
Health and other government agencies. As such, it may be refused under
section 18(f) of the Act. In order to refine your request, can you please
specify which topic/s of communication you are interested in accessing
between the Government New Zealand Ministry of Health and the World Health
Organisation, as New Zealand engages with the WHO on the full spectrum of
health topics that fall under the Organization's purview.  

 

As you may be aware the Ministry requires a decision to be made as soon as
practicable. Therefore, please advise the Ministry by 5pm 10 June 2022 for
the Ministry to consider the scope of your request.  

 

We look forward to receiving your response.  

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

  

[1]Ministry of Health information releases 

[2]Unite 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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From: Athina Andonatou

Dear OIA Requests,
I feel my request was very specific, so I'll phrase it in another way "Did the WHO instruct the NZ Government to prepare for an imminent coronavirus pandemic?". I am requesting all documentation, all communications and all reports between:
1) the Government and WHO
For the period covering 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020

Yours sincerely,

Athina Andonatou

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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

Visible links
1. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]

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From: Information [DPMC]
National Emergency Management Agency


Attachment image001.png
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Attachment DPMCOIA Reply OIA 2021 22 1358 Andonatou.pdf
163K Download View as HTML


 

 

[UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Kia ora koe,

 

Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E    [1][email address]
 
 
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.

 

 

Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
Link: [5]colorSchemeMapping

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From: OIA Requests


Attachment Outlook n0e2owfs.png
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Attachment H202207345 Response letter.pdf
188K Download View as HTML


​Kia ora Athina,

 

Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information. 

 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

  

[1]Ministry of Health information releases 

[2]Unite 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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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
National Emergency Management Agency only: