15 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 Of icial 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 Al
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.”
Information being released
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the document listed below, subject to
information being withheld under section 9(2)(h) of the Act, to maintain legal professional
privilege.
Item Date
Document Description/Subject
1. 26 August 2022 COVID-19 Response Measures March 2020 to August 2022
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4643605
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
Information publicly available
The following information is also covered by your request and will soon be publicly available
on the DPMC website:
Item Date
Document Title
Website Address
1. 26 August 2022 Report: Al of Government COVID-
https:/ dpmc.govt.nz/publica
19 System Readiness Exercise
tions
Accordingly, I have refused your request for the document listed in the above table under
section 18(d) of the Act – the information requested is or wil soon be publicly available.
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.
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
4643605
2
Document Outline