Harold response.pdf

13 October 2022

Harold
[FYI request #20263 email]

Ref: OIA-2022/23-0060

Dear Harold

Official Information Act request relating to scenario planning conducted by the COVID-
19 Group Readiness & Planning Team and other COVID-19 scenario planning

Thank you for your Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 18 August
2022.

On 31 August 2022,  an official from  the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC) contacted you to ask if you would consider narrowing the scope of your request to a
specific document or subject due  to the number  of documents  you  requested. You were
advised that without this clarification, your request would likely be refused 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 wil  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%2Fre
quest%2F17765%2Fresponse%2F75491%2Fattach%2F4%2FFOR%2520RELEASE%
25202%2520of%25202%2520OIA%25202021%252022%25200684.pdf&data=05
%7C01%7Cinformation%40dpmc.govt.nz%7C00b4805d018b4a091fab08da8ae54542
%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc613%7C0%7C0%7C637975016414614434%7
CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik
1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cg%2BT9guANRwUjbek
whmiU9p0q41Kfd3onOHB2BXMMx0%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.

Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4614185

  64 4 817 9698  www.dpmc.govt.nz

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 wil  undertake some
scenario testing in light of the new variant to test summer readiness. Outcomes wil  be
given to CCB.”
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
%2Fassets%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%7C00b4805d018b4
a091fab08da8ae54542%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc613%7C0%7C0%7C63
7975016414614434%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQ
IjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mt
5k5zAi9uV5LiZM97tIQ0Zu51%2BvcJrRqDyyFyyAUh8%3D&reserved=0

“An Omicron planning sprint is underway with a NRG workshop held on 11 January…
Summary collateral is being developed and wil  be shared with stakeholders, including
CCB next week.”

I would like to request a copy of the “summary col ateral” 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
%2Fassets%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%7C00b4805d018b4
a091fab08da8ae54542%7Ceea6053309ef4b7a94060f38551cc613%7C0%7C0%7C63
7975016414614434%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQ
IjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=on
55zoKvkUMZGIK0V80akrUAJa6jwxLBWmuTRkVFxm0%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."

On 13 September 2022 the time frame for responding to your request was extended under
section 15A of the Act by 20 working days because a search through a large quantity of
information, and consultations were needed before a decision could be made on the request.
Following this extension, I am now in a position to respond.

I am releasing to you the documents in the table below that fall within scope of your request.
Some information has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, as the withholding of
the information is necessary to protect privacy.

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Date
Document description
Question #
3 October 2021
National Response Group Meeting: COVID-19:
Two
Domestic response, operation updates regarding AL 3
and 2 in effect and new cases reported in the
community in Waikato
5 October 2021
National Response Group Meeting: COVID-19:  Two
Domestic response, operation updates regarding AL 3
and 2 in effect and new cases reported in the
community in Waikato
15 December 2021  Summer Readiness and Planning Workshop Agenda
Two
15 December 2021  Sumer readiness and planning workshop A3
Two
15 December 2021  COVID-19 Protection Framework over summer– Two
Operationalising the minimise and protect strategy
15 December 2021  Working timeline of key decisions A3
Two
11 January 2022
Invite – Workshop: preparing for Omicron
Three
11 January 2022
Agenda: Omicron Workshop
Three
11 January 2022
Impacts on Supply Chains in the Omicron Context
Three
13 January 2022
Summary of National Response Group Omicron Three
Workshop
13 January 2022
DPMC Timeline, Challenges and Considerations for  Three
Omicron – A3
17 February 2022
Report Back on Agency Preparations for Omicron  Four
Phase 3
•  Annex A: Omicron “Phase Three” Workshop
•  Annex B: Preparations for the impacts of
Omicron in Phase 3

Regarding Part One of your request, no workshops relating to worst case scenario planning
though the National Response Group were held that match what you have requested. As no
information can be identified, I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(e) of
the Act as the information does not exist, or cannot be found.

In making my decision, I have taken the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the
Act into account.

You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.

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This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details wil be
removed for publication.

Yours sincerely

Katrina Casey
Deputy Chief Executive
COVID-19 Response
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