Kia ora

Thank you for taking the time to write to Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister
for Seniors, Minister for Food Safety, Associate Minister of Health and
Associate Minister for Research, Science and Development. Your email will
be carefully considered and noted and should a response be required it
will be sent in due course.

Ngā  Mihi 

Office of Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall

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Kia ora Jennifer,

Thank you for your email of 20/06/2022 in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:

- On the 25th October 2021 the version of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 held the definition of care and support workers as the following;
'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to carry out work that includes going to the home or place of residence of another person (not being the home or place of residence of a family member) to provide care and support services'.

-On November 6th a new version of COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 was released and the definition of care and support workers was as following;
'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to provide care and support services within a home or place of residence'.

Minister Verrall is considering your request in accordance with the Act, and you can expect a response by 19/07/2022.

Ngâ mihi”

Alfred

Alfred Lison (he/him)
Roving Private Secretary (Executive Support) | Office of Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Minister for COVID-19 Response
Minister of Research, Science and Innovation
Minister for Seniors
Associate Minister of Health

Phone: 04 817 8733
Email: [Ayesha Verrall request email] Website: www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Wright [mailto:[FOI #19712 email]]
Sent: Monday, 20 June 2022 4:05 PM
To: A Verrall (MIN) <[Ayesha Verrall request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - COVID-19 Response

Dear Ayesha Verrall,

I wish to request information pertaining to the time Chris Hipkins held the portfolio for COVID-19 Response. On the 25th October 2021 the version of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 held the definition of care and support workers as the following;

'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to carry out work that includes going to the home or place of residence of another person (not being the home or place of residence of a family member) to provide care and support services'.

Then, On November 6th a new version of COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 was released and the definition of care and support workers was as following;

'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to provide care and support services within a home or place of residence'.

Please provide me with all the public health advice given and all the information that was considered when deciding to include care and support workers, working in a family member's home, in the COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 as at November 6 2021.

Yours faithfully,

Jennie Wright

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #19712 email]

Is [Ayesha Verrall request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ayesha Verrall? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

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________________________________

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Jennifer,

Thank you for your request for official information, received on 20 June
2022 for:

 

- “On the 25th October 2021 the version of the COVID-19 Public Health
Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 held the definition of care and support
workers as the following; 'Care and Support Worker means a person employed
or engaged to carry out work that includes going to the home or place of
residence of another person (not being the home or place of residence of a
family member) to provide care and support services'.

- On November 6th a new version of COVID-19 Public Health Response
(vaccination ) Order 2021 was released and the definition of care and
support workers was as following; 'Care and Support Worker means a person
employed or engaged to provide care and support services within a home or
place of residence”

 

This office 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, 16 August
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.

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

 

Daniel Martin

Health Private Secretary | Office of Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall

Minister for COVID-19 Response

Minister of Research, Science and Innovation
Minister for Seniors

Associate Minister of Health

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: A Verrall (MIN)

Sent: Monday, 20 June 2022 4:35 PM

To: 'Jennifer Wright' <[1][FOI #19712 email]>

Subject: RE: Official Information request - COVID-19 Response

 

Kia ora Jennifer,

 

Thank you for your email of 20/06/2022 in which you submitted an Official
Information Act request as follows:

 

-              On the 25th October 2021 the version of the COVID-19 Public
Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 held the definition of care and
support workers as the following;

'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to carry out
work that includes going to the home or place of residence of another
person (not being the home or place of residence of a family member) to
provide care and support services'.

 

-              On November 6th a new version of COVID-19 Public Health
Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 was released and the definition of care
and support workers was as following;

'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to provide
care and support services within a home or place of residence'.

 

Minister Verrall is considering your request in accordance with the Act,
and you can expect a response by 19/07/2022.

 

Ngâ mihi”

 

Alfred

 

 

Alfred Lison (he/him)

Roving Private Secretary (Executive Support) | Office of Hon Dr Ayesha
Verrall Minister for COVID-19 Response Minister of Research, Science and
Innovation Minister for Seniors Associate Minister of Health

 

Phone: 04 817 8733

Email: [2][Ayesha Verrall request email] Website: [3]www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Jennifer Wright
[[4]mailto:[FOI #19712 email]]

Sent: Monday, 20 June 2022 4:05 PM

To: A Verrall (MIN) <[5][Ayesha Verrall request email]>

Subject: Official Information request - COVID-19 Response

 

Dear Ayesha Verrall,

 

I wish to request information pertaining to the time Chris Hipkins held
the portfolio for COVID-19 Response. On the 25th October 2021 the version
of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 held the
definition of care and support workers as the following;

 

'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to carry out
work that includes going to the home or place of residence of another
person (not being the home or place of residence of a family member) to
provide care and support services'.

 

Then, On November 6th a new version of COVID-19 Public Health Response
(vaccination ) Order 2021 was released and the definition of care and
support workers was as following;

 

'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to provide
care and support services within a home or place of residence'.

 

Please provide me with all the public health advice given and all the
information that was considered when deciding to include care and support
workers, working in a family member's home, in the COVID-19 Public Health
Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 as at November 6 2021.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Jennie Wright

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #19712 email]

 

Is [7][Ayesha Verrall request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Ayesha Verrall? If so, please contact us using
this form:

[8]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[9]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #19712 email]
2. mailto:[Ayesha Verrall request email]
3. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #19712 email]
5. mailto:[Ayesha Verrall request email]
6. mailto:[FOI #19712 email]
7. mailto:[Ayesha Verrall request email]
8. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
9. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Jennifer,

Please find attached the Ministers response to your request for official information.

Ngā mihi,

Daniel Martin
Health Private Secretary | Office of Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Minister for COVID-19 Response
Minister of Research, Science and Innovation
Minister for Seniors
Associate Minister of Health
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Wright [mailto:[FOI #19712 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 19 July 2022 5:06 PM
To: Daniel Martin <[email address]>
Subject: RE: AVOIA34 2022: Official Information request - COVID-19 Response

Dear Daniel Martin,

I do not believe this request warrants an extension of time. It's a simple request to help me understand what public health reasons were behind me losing my job caring for my own son in my own home.

The changes made to the order must have reasons and be evidence based ones. It's important to know why I am more of a public health risk to my son while being his carer than while I'm being his mother.

I have made a complaint to the ombudsman and I do hope you reconsider the need for an extension and provide me with the information requested promptly.

Yours sincerely,

Jennifer Wright

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Jennifer,

Thank you for your request for official information, received on 20 June
2022 for:

- “On the 25th October 2021 the version of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 held the definition of care and support workers as the following; 'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to carry out work that includes going to the home or place of residence of another person (not being the home or place of residence of a family member) to provide care and support services'.

- On November 6th a new version of COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination ) Order 2021 was released and the definition of care and support workers was as following; 'Care and Support Worker means a person employed or engaged to provide care and support services within a home or place of residence”

This office 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, 16 August 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.

Ngâ mihi,

Daniel Martin

Health Private Secretary | Office of Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall

Minister for COVID-19 Response

Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Minister for Seniors

Associate Minister of Health

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #19712 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

 

Kia ora Jennifer

 

Thank you for your request for information via the Ombudsman’s office for:

 

“in terms of public health advice..…medical evidence in relation to the
decision to change the definition of a care and support worker in the
COVID-19 Public Health Response (vaccination) Order 2021.”

 

Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to you. Please
find a response to your question below:

 

Responsibilities for disability have moved to Whaikaha, however, it is the
Ministry of Health’s understanding that the inclusion of family carers
reflected concerns from some members of the disability community that they
were dependent on an unvaccinated family carer for their care, had limited
ability to exclude unvaccinated family carers from their “bubble” despite
their vulnerability to COVID-19 and that there was no good reason for them
to not receive the same degree of protection from COVID-19 as those
receiving care from a non-family member.  Public health advice was
received in relation to the inclusion of in-home carers in the original
order, however, as the change involved the removal of an exception based
on family status rather than the introduction of a new type of work,
specific public health advice was not obtained beyond the public health
advice from the Director-General contained in the health report provided.

 

Thank you

 

 

Office of Hon Dr Ayesha
Verrall

Minister for COVID-19
Response

Minister of Research,
Science and Innovation
Minister for Seniors

Associate Minister of
Health

 

Email:
[email address]

Private Bag 18041,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington 6160, New
Zealand

 

 

 

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