New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
1 December 2022
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
J Bruning
T +64 4 439 8000
F +64 4 472 9596
[FYI request #20643 email]
OIA 28335
Tēnā koe J Bruning
I refer to your email of 22 September 2022 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
“Please supply all cabinet papers, memoranda, and reports received by officials and
Ministers regarding an 'International Travel Vaccination Certificate'.
This includes all information internally produced by agencies and government officials, as
well information and advice received from the WHO, United Nations agencies, from GAVI,
CEPI and COVAX; from the World Economic Forum as well as from management
consultancy firms.
Please advise all known countries who have integrated International Travel Vaccination
Certificate into their policies and procedures currently, and countries for which this plan is
underway.”
On 6 October 2022, you were informed that your request for information was transferred to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Ministry) as the information you have requested is
more closely connected to the functions of the Ministry.
On 18 October 2022, we contacted you regarding the scope of your request and to see if you
would refine your request. On 19 October 2022, you agreed to the following refinement:
Cabinet Papers, Memoranda and Reports prepared by MFAT sent to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs regarding New Zealand’s international travel vaccination certificate.
Please advise all known countries who have integrated International Travel Vaccination
Certificate into their policies and procedures currently, and countries for which this plan is
underway.
On 4 November 2022, you were informed that the timeframe for responding to your request for
information was being extended by 25 working days, to 9 December 2022. Thank you for your
patience while we processed your request.
Regarding your second query, Aotearoa New Zealand’s International Travel Vaccination
Certificate is integrated into the European Union’s Digital COVID Certificate system (the EU
DCC). A list of countries which have currently integrated the EU DCC into their national systems
can be accessed at the following location:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-
eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-
certificate_en#recognition-by-the-eu-of-covid-certificates-issued-by-third-non-eu-countries .
e [email address]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
Page 2 of 2
The Ministry does not hold information regarding countries which have plans underway to
integrate with the EU DCC. As such, this part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of
the OIA, as the information you have requested does not exist.
Please find the information relevant to the remainder of your request attached. We have
withheld some information under the following sections of the OIA:
• 6(a): to avoid prejudicing the security or defence of New Zealand or the international
relations of the New Zealand Government;
• 6(b)(ii): to protect the passing of information from an international organisation on a
confidential basis;
• 9(2)(a): to protect individuals’ privacy; and
• 9(2)(g)(i): to protect the free and frank expression of opinions by departments.
Where the information has been withheld under section 9 of the OIA, we have identified no
public interest in releasing the information that would override the reasons for withholding it.
Please note that we may publish this letter (with your personal details redacted) and enclosed
documents on the Ministry’s website.
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Owen Thornber
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
