1 November 2022
Harold
[FYI request #20742 email]
Ref: OIA-2022/23-0198
Dear Harold
Official Information Act request relating to Catalogue of COVID-19 Response
Measures and Variant of Concern exercise
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 4 October
2022. Your request was:
“I would like to make a request for the following documents referenced in the DPMC
Briefing to the Incoming Minister for COVID-19 Response Ayesha Verrall:
ONE: On page 9 of the BIM, a “Catalogue of COVID-19 Response Measures” is
referenced:
“Current readiness work includes ensuring the system is briefed on (through the NRG)
health system planning for variants of concern and the development of the “Catalogue
of COVID-19 Response Measures”.”
I would like to request a copy of this “Catalogue of COVID-19 Response Measures”.
TWO: On page 9 a COVID-19 variant of concern-related readiness exercise is
referenced:
“…This includes ensuring that agencies are aware of their responsibilities should any
of these measures be required in the future to respond to variants of concern. DPMC
will support agencies to undertake this work, including via leading an exercise to
ensure system readiness to respond to a new variant of concern preceding any
transition of All of Government response functions from DPMC to health entities. A
report on this exercise wil be provided to you.”
If this “new variant of concern” readiness exercise has been conducted, I would like to
request a copy of the report produced summarising its outcomes – either the report for
Minister Verrall referred to above if one was created, or if one wasn’t whatever report
was produced that summarises the outcomes of the exercise.”
I have decided under section 15A of the Act to extend the time limits for deciding on your
request by an additional 10 working days. Consequently, the extended due date for your
response will be 15 November 2022.
The extension is required because of the consultations needed to make a decision on your
request. Despite the extension, a response will be sent to you as soon as possible.
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4646145
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under section
28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Jude Urlich
Director, Organisation Direction and Development
3249891
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