133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
29 November 2022
Scott
By email: [FYI request #20877 email]
Ref:
H2022014882
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 17 October 2022 for:
All reviews of the COVID-19 Protection Framework settings dated since the beginning of
July 2022. For clarity, I am seeking copies of the kind of reviews released here (on page
25):
which is the CPF review completed in June this year, and where it is mentioned that these
reviews are conducted on a regular basis (monthly). So my request is for copies of the
other reviews in this series, dated since the beginning of July this year.
In a recent press release on the Ministry website it is stated that:
“The Ministry of Health carries out regular COVID-19 public health assessments and
updates its advice to Government on appropriate public health measures based on the
latest evidence.”
I take this to mean that regular COVID-19 public health risk assessments have continued
to be produced by the Ministry, even past the end of the CPF on 12 September.
I would like to request copies of all regular COVID-19 public health risk assessments, of
the type referred to in the press release, that have been produced since 12 September.
Three documents have been identified as being within the scope of your request. Al documents
are itemised in Appendix 1 and copies of the documents are attached. Where information is
withheld, this is outlined in the Appendix and noted in the document itself. Where information is
withheld under section 9 of the Act, I have considered the countervailing public interest and
consider that it does not outweigh the need to withhold at this time.
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
Steve Waldegrave
Associate Deputy Director-General
Strategy, Policy and Legislation |
Te Pou Rautaki
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: List of documents for release
# Date
Document details
Decision on release
1 1
Memo – Review of
Some information withheld under the following sections
August COVID-19 Protection of the Act:
2022
Framework settings –
27 July 2022
• Section 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct
of public affairs through the free and frank
expression of opinions by or between or to
Ministers and officers and employees of any public
service agency, and
• Section 9(2)(h), to maintain legal professional
privilege.
2 17
Memo – Public Health Refused under section 18(d) as the information requested
August Risk Assessment of
is publicly available at:
2022
COVID-19 Mandated
www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/memo_-
Response Measures –
_phra_of_covid-
17 August 2022
19_mandated_measures_17_august_2022.pdf
3 12
Memo – Public Health Some information withheld under the following sections of
October Risk Assessment of
the Act:
2022
COVID-19 mandated
• Section 9(2)(g)(i),
response measures, 3
• Section 9(2)(f)(iv), to maintain the constitutional
October 2022
conventions that protect the confidentiality of advice
tendered by Ministers and officials, and
• Section 9(2)(h) to maintain legal professional
privilege.
Page 3 of 3