133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
20 January 2023
Cam Slater
By email: [FYI request #21344 email]
Ref:
H2022018178
Tēnā koe Cam
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 5 December 2022 for Disinformation Assessment and Response
Team (DART) correspondence. You requested:
“Al communications between any member of the Disinformation Assessment and
Response Team (DART) and any other organisation including internal
communications/reports/memoranda/emails etc that references/mentions/reports on The
BFD news website.”
The COVID-19 Disinformation Assessment and Response Team (DART) 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. The team itself no
longer exists: the two contractors and the Senior Advisor finished working at the Ministry within
the last two months of 2022.
When it was in operation, DART acted as a clearinghouse for reporting on disinformation. DART
received reports of disinformation through a variety of forms, including leaflets, digital items,
weblinks and reports from social media. While most instances were brought to the attention of
Manatū Hauora by members of the public or external parties, some were generated internally
through monitoring by the Ministry’s Social Media team. For example, if the Social Media team
noted disinformation on a post on our channels, this was reported to DART.
DART did not collect personal information and used only open-source data to assess
information. It could not assess items that were private. During its operation, the team made
referrals to the Medical Council, the Department of Internal Af airs, Netsafe, Worksafe and the
New Zealand Police. Referrals were also made to other parts of Manatū Hauora, as well as to
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (formerly the district health boards). DART also worked with
Netsafe to bring to its attention examples of sites and other social media sources where
disinformation was reported on platforms like Facebook.
We have identified 12 documents that contain information within scope of your request. These
documents are itemised in Appendix 1 and copies of the documents are enclosed. Where
information has been withheld under section 9 of the Act, I have considered the countervailing
public interest in release in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the need
to withhold at this time. Please note that information unrelated to BFD has been withheld.
If you require clarification or further information, please contact the Ministry at
[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 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
Megan McCoy
Acting Deputy Director-General
Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga
Page 2 of 4
Appendix 1: List of documents for release
# Date
Document details
Decision on release
1 5 January 2022
Email: Summary and additional Some information has been
platform-level analysis 05/22
withheld under the following
sections of the Act:
• section 9(2)(ba)(i) to protect
information 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)(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.
Information deemed out of scope
of your request has been withheld.
2 11 January 2022
Email: Landscape reports 28
Some information has been
Dec-3 Jan – SENSITIVE
withheld under the following
sections of the Act:
• section 9(2)(ba)(i)
• section 9(2)(g)(i ).
3 12 April 2022 –
Email: COVID-19 disinformation Some information has been
20 April 2022
withheld under the 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)(a) to protect the
privacy of natural persons;
• 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)(g)(i ).
Information deemed out of scope
of your request has been withheld.
4 26 April 2022
Email: Daily Telegraph
Some information has been
withheld under section 9(2)(g)(i ).
5 7 July 2022
Email: Recent Media relating to
MOH and Health
Page 3 of 4
# Date
Document details
Decision on release
6 8 July 2022
Email: Letter to Medsafe
Information deemed out of scope
of your request has been withheld.
7 29 August 2022
Email: Article online: Leaked:
Police Begging Interpol for Intel
on Avi Yemini
8 13 September 2022 Email: Updated report
9
Email Attachment: Voices For
Information deemed out of scope
Freedom Monthly Report
of your request has been withheld.
Updated
10 19 September 2022 Email: Patient Safety Day post Some information has been
feedback
withheld under the following
sections of the Act:
• section 9(2)(a)
• section 9(2)(g)(i ).
Information deemed out of scope
of your request has been withheld
11
Spreadsheet: COVID
Information deemed out of scope
Disinformation
of your request has been withheld.
12
Spreadsheet: 4409194
Summary of Potential mis
Disinformation Reports
Page 4 of 4