This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Impact assessment of Covid 19 Health Response Act 2020'.

 
133 Molesworth Street 
PO Box 5013 
Wellington 6140 
New Zealand 
T+64 4 496 2000 
 
6 December 2022 
 
 
Andrew Lewis 
 
By email:  [FYI request #21069 email] 
Ref:   
H2022017238 
 
Tēnā koe Andrew, 
 
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 21 November 2022 for: 
 
“Please supply all information on file which relates to the impact assessment for the 

Covid 19 Health Response Act 2020” 
 
The New Zealand Treasury determined that the COVID-19 Public Health Response Bil  was 
a direct COVID-19 response. The Treasury suspended the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) 
requirements because the RIA does not provide for proposals developed at pace to respond 
to emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary suspension of RIA 
requirements is detailed in Cabinet Minute: CAB-20-MIN-0138 and can be viewed here: 
www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/cabinet-minute/cab-20-min-0138-additional-item-
temporary-suspension-regulatory-impact-analysis-requirements-covid-19 . Therefore, your 
request is refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information requested does not 
exist. 
 
Te Tāhū o te Ture (the Ministry of Justice) considered whether the Bil  was consistent with 
the rights and freedoms of the New Zealand Bil  of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA). You can 
view the advice here: www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Publications/COVID-19-Public-
Health-Response-Bil .pdf.  
 
There were RIAs for subsequent amendments to the COVID-19 Public Health Response 
Act. Al  RIAs are published on Manatū Hauora’s website and can be viewed here: 
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/regulatory-impact-statements. 
 
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 & Legislation 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Page 2 of 2