133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
20 January 2023
P Taylor
By email: [FYI request #21336 email]
Ref:
H2022018143
Tēnā koe
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your follow up request under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū
Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 5 December 2022 for further information regarding the
Manatū Hauora Disinformation Assessment and Response Team (DART). You requested:
“Further to my previous request, H2022015932. I would like to request all communications
between any member of the Disinformation Assessment and Response Team (DART)
and Netsafe during the period of 01 January 2022 and 31 July 2022.”
As you have previously been advised, the COVID-19 Disinformation Assessment and Response
Team (DART) no longer exists. It was initially established as part of the Manatū Hauora National
Immunisation Programme. DART transferred into the Communications and Engagement Group
on 1 June 2022. Following that transfer, the work was rescoped to fit with the communications
focus.
Five email chains have been identified within scope of your request. These are itemised in
Appendix 1 and copies of the documents are enclosed. Where information is withheld under
section 9 of the Act, I have considered the countervailing public interest in releasing information
and consider that it does not outweigh the need to withhold at this time.
Please refer to the response to your previous request for information on the functions previously
delivered by DART (H2022015932 refers).
I trust this information fulfils your request. If you require any further clarification or information,
please contact
[email address]. 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 cal ing 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
Megan McCoy
Acting Deputy Director-General
Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: List of documents for release
# Date
Document details
Decision on release
1 24 February 2022 Email
Information is being withheld in full under the
Correspondence
following sections of the Act:
• section 6(c) as its release would likely
prejudice the maintenance of the law,
including the prevention, investigation,
and detection of offences, and the right to
a fair trial
• section 9(2)(c) to avoid prejudice to
measures to protect the health or safety
of the public
• section 9(2)(g)(i ) to maintain the effective
conduct of public affairs through the
protection of Ministers, members of
organisations, officers, and employees
from improper pressure or harassment.
2 14 March 2022 – Email: Netsafe and
Some information is being withheld under the
24 March 2022
DART meeting
following sections of the Act:
• section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of
natural persons
• section 9(2)(g)(i )
3 28 March 2022 – Email: Follow up to
Some information is being withheld under the
27 June 2022
Meeting on Friday
following sections of the Act:
• section 9(2)(a)
• section 9(2)(g)(i )
Information deemed out of scope of your
request has been excluded.
4 4 July 2022
Email: Report on
Some information is being withheld under the
Disinformation Harms following sections of the Act:
and proposal for
• section 9(2)(ba)(i) to protect information
regular catchups
that is subject to an obligation of
confidence and making it available would
likely prejudice the supply of similar
information, or information from the same
source
• section 9(2)(g)(ii)
5 6 July 2022 –
Email: Netsafe and
Some information is being withheld under the
27 July 2022
Dart Monthly
following sections of the Act:
Catchup
• section 9(2)(a)
• section 9(2)(g)(i )
Information deemed out of scope of your
request has been excluded.
Page 3 of 3
