13 September 2022
Harold
by email:
[FYI request #20263 email]
Ref: OIA-2022/23-0060
Dear Harold
Official Information Act request relating scenario planning conducted by the COVID-
19 Group Readiness & Planning Team and other COVID-19 scenario planning
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 18 August 2022.
Please find your request enclosed with this letter.
On 31 August 2022, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) consider
narrowing the scope of your request to a specific document or subject as due to the breadth
of documents your request was asking for, our response was likely to be a refusal of your
request under section 18(f) of the Act as the information requested cannot be made available
without substantial collation or research.
You replied with the following refinement of your request:
"ONE: The minutes of a 28 September 2021 meeting of the COVID-19 National Response Group
refers to ‘worst case scenario’ planning:
“The Chair updated NRG that the DPMC Readiness & Planning Team will be hosting ‘worst case
scenario’ planning in case the tail of the Auckland outbreak is not contained.” The meeting
minutes can be accessed here (quote on p.13, para 7):
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%
2F17765%2Fresponse%2F75491%2Fattach%2F4%2FFOR%2520RELEASE%25202%2520of%252
02%2520OIA%25202021%252022%25200684.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cinformation%40dp
mc.govt.nz%7C00b4805d018b4a091fab08da8ae54542%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc
613%7C0%7C0%7C637975016414614434%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjA
wMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=C
g%2BT9guANRwUjbekwhmiU9p0q41Kfd3onOHB2BXMMx0%3D&reserved=0
I would like to request a copy of any agenda or other document prepared for this planning, and
any documents reporting its outcomes. If the outcomes and recommendations stemming from
this planning were reported to the COVID-19 Chief Executives Board, I would like to request a
copy of this report or presentation.
TWO: The minutes of a 28 November 2021 meeting of the COVID-19 National Response
Leadership Team refers to planning for the Omicron variant:
“…next week the COVID-19 Readiness and Planning team will undertake some scenario testing
in light of the new variant to test summer readiness. Outcomes will be given to CCB.”
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4612951
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz
The meeting minutes can be accessed at the link above (quote on p.204, para 10). I would like
to request a copy of these “outcomes” presented to CCB.
THREE: A 14 January 2022 document released by DPMC refers to an Omicron planning
workshop (p.5):
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovid19.govt.nz%2Fass
ets%2FProactive-Releases%2FReviews-and-audits%2F29-July-2022%2FCOVID-19-Response-
Weekly-Report-140122-14-January-
2022.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cinformation%40dpmc.govt.nz%7C00b4805d018b4a091fab
08da8ae54542%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc613%7C0%7C0%7C63797501641461443
4%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWw
iLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mt5k5zAi9uV5LiZM97tIQ0Zu51%2BvcJrRqD
yyFyyAUh8%3D&reserved=0
“An Omicron planning sprint is underway with a NRG workshop held on 11 January… Summary
collateral is being developed and will be shared with stakeholders, including CCB next week.” I
would like to request a copy of the “summary collateral” referred to here.
FOUR: An 18 February 2022 document released by DPMC refers to an Omicron Phase 3
planning workshop (p.6):
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcovid19.govt.nz%2Fass
ets%2FProactive-Releases%2FReviews-and-audits%2F29-July-2022%2FCOVID-19-Response-
Weekly-Report-180222-18-February-
2022.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Cinformation%40dpmc.govt.nz%7C00b4805d018b4a091fab
08da8ae54542%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc613%7C0%7C0%7C63797501641461443
4%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWw
iLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=on55zoKvkUMZGIK0V80akrUAJa6jwxLBWm
uTRkVFxm0%3D&reserved=0
“A multi-agency workshop was held on 9 February to understand the preparations by agencies
for the impacts of Omicron when in Phase 3. A noting paper for the CCB outlines key
observations for the workshop, accompanied by an A3 detailing the key points discussed in the
workshop.” I would like to request copies of the “noting paper” and A3 referred to here."
I have decided under section 15A of the Act to extend the time limits for deciding on your
request by an additional 20 working days. Consequently, the extended due date for your
response will be 13 October 2022.
The extension is required because your request necessitates a search through a large quantity
of information, and consultations are needed before a decision can be made on your request.
Despite the extension, a response will be sent to you as soon as possible.
3249891
2
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under section
28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Margaret, Noonan
Team Leader, Ministerial and Business Services
3249891
3
