Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques
26 January 2023
Michael Bryant
By email:
[FYI request #21346 email]
Ref:
ALOIA299
Dear Michael,
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 7 December
2022 for information about the COVID-19 vaccine. You requested:
“My request pertains to the information provided in this article from both parties
involved, from when the first claim is stated and the counter argument is offered
through to the end. I am particularly interested in knowing how many of the counter
claims have held up over time and are stil accepted as factual at present, and how
many were later found out to be incorrect or false, weather that be from New data
becoming available over time, further studies being published, whistle blowers
releasing information, proceedings in the USA congress or Senate that have led to
revelations, People retracting statements made previously, official data provided by
government entities or any other method. I expect that all information provided to the
public in this article, and the sources linked throughout are investigated thoroughly and
any discrepancies are highlighted and the new understanding of what is correct or true
for each particular piece is provided. I understand that this is a lot of data and
information to check so I thank you and your team in advance for the work needed to
get this done.”
While the Act allows New Zealanders to ask Ministers and government agencies for
information, there is no requirement under the Act for agencies to create new information,
compile information they do not hold, respond to hypothetical questions or, as in this case,
provide or prove an opinion.
I refer you to the publicly available information provided in the Newshub article which can be
found on the following links below:
•
www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/covid-
19-testing/covid-19-test-results-and-their-accuracy.
•
www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/information-
release/h202100070_26_jan_2021_covid-
19_cycle_threshold_value_for_pcr_testing_0.pdf.
Further information on COVID-19 can also be found at:
www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-
coronavirus/covid-19-response-planning/covid-19-science-news.
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.
Yours sincerely
Hon Andrew Little
Minister of Health
