133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
8 December 2022
Scott
By email: [FYI request #20812 email]
Ref:
H2022015218
Tēnā koe Scott
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora
(the Ministry of Health) on 20 October 2022. Your request is copied below and responded to in
turn:
In a document released on the Unite Against COVID-19 website recently, a Ministry of
Health document called the “COVID-19 Management Plan” is referenced
“…the MoH Manatū Hauora COVID-19 Management Plan, which outlines MoH’s role as
lead agency for the public health system…” (Quote on page 4).
I would like to request a copy of this plan.
The document you have requested is the transitioning version of the Department of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) National Management Plan to a Ministry of Health Management
Plan and is stil in development. Therefore, this document has been withheld under section
9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act to maintain the constitutional conventions that protect the confidentiality of
advice tendered by Ministers and officials.
Manatū Hauora has developed and operated Resurgence and Response Management Plans
throughout the COVID-19 response that align to guide and support the National Management
Plans. The National Management Plan responsibilities and content is currently transitioning from
DPMC to Manatū Hauora and the Public Health Agency. As such, the content of the plan is
being reviewed and updated to reflect this transition, inclusive of the roles and responsibilities
across the public health system.
I would like to request copies of the briefings prepared for ministers to inform their
decision to renew the Epidemic Notice for COVID-19, for the renewals which occurred in
June and September this year.
For clarity, I am seeking copies of the kind of briefing released by the Ministry in response
to another OIA request, here:
https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/information-release/h202207410.pdf
but for the renewals which occurred in June and September this year.”
Manatū Hauora has identified two documents within scope of this part of your request. Both
documents are publicly available (linked below).
I trust this information fulfils your request. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to
ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may
be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Dr Andrew Old
Deputy Director-General
Public Health Agency
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: List of documents for release
#
Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
14 June 2022
Briefing – Renewal of the
Refused under section 18(d)
Epidemic Notice under section
of the Act, as the information
7(1) of the Epidemic
requested is publicly available:
Preparedness Act 2006 (No 9)
www.health.govt.nz/about-
ministry/information-
releases/responses-of icial-
information-act-
requests/information-related-
epidemic-preparedness-
notices-march-2020-june-2022
2
9 September 2022 Briefing – Review of the
Refused under section 18(d)
Epidemic Preparedness (COVID- of the Act, as the information
19) Notice 2020
requested is publicly available:
www.health.govt.nz/about-
ministry/information-
releases/responses-of icial-
information-act-
requests/information-related-
epidemic-preparedness-
notice-september-2022
Page 3 of 3