2 May 2023 
 
 
Al  
[FYI request #22356 email] 
 
Ref: OIA-2022/23-0757 
Dear Al 
 
Official Information Act request for correspondence/documents related to the use of a 
domestic vaccine passes 
 
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on  2 April 2023. 
You requested: 
 
“This OIA response: www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-03/dpmc-roia-oia-2021-
22-0346-vaccine-documentation-for-domestic-use.PDF 
 
Notes that: 
 
“On 5 July 2021, Cabinet agreed the Minister for COVID-19 Response would report 
back on progress towards development and operationalisation of vaccine certificates; 
And on 27 September 2021 , Cabinet first considered the use of CVCs as part of the 
decision to develop a new strategy for a highly vaccinated New Zealand;” 
 
Reading the response it implies officials were looking into the usage of domestic 
passports since July (and not solely a travel passport) from the referenced 5th of July 
Cabinet meeting. 
 
But I can’t find any Cabinet paper or minute or other document that has been 
proactively released that refers to domestic vaccine certificates from the 5th of July. 
 
I’d like to provided with: 
 
- The document on the 5th of July 2021 that is referenced where it’s noted the Minister 
will report back on the use of vaccine certificates – I’m particularly interested if this was 
simply a report back on progress (that the Ministry of Health appeared to be leading on 
the use of a travel certificate) or if It explicitly included the use o” exploring domestic 
vaccine certificates. 
 
- Any communications or documents between July 2021 and the resultant 27th of 
September 2021 Cabinet paper on the use of domestic vaccine certificates and 
developing advice or policy or engagement or consultation on them that DPMC was 
involved with.“” 
 
In  regard  for  your  request  for  the  Cabinet  Paper  dated  5  July  2021  referenced  in  the  link 
provided in your request, the paper can be accessed from the following link: 
 
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive-Releases/Border/2021-09-08-Proactive-
release/Reconnecting-New-Zealanders-with-the-World.pdf 
 
 
 
4741101 
 
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011 
 
  64 4 817 9698  www.dpmc.govt.nz 
 
 
 

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I  have  interpreted  your  request  to  be  for  information  between  the  Department  of  the  Prime 
Minister and Cabinet and the Prime Minister and/or the Minister for the COVID-19 Response 
on the creation of domestic COVID-19 Vaccine Certificates.  
 
I can advise that for the period 1 July 2021 – 27 September 2021, two joint briefings by the 
Ministry  of  Health  and  the  Department  of  the  Prime  Minister  and  Cabinet  were  produced 
relating  to  the  creation  of  domestic  COVID-19  Vaccine  Certificates,  both  of  which  are 
provided below: 
 
•  Joint  Briefing:  Initial  Advice  on  the  Domestic  use  of  COVID-19  Vaccination 
Certificates 
- 
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive-Releases/Alert-levels-and-
restrictions/10-Dec-2021/Vaccine-Certificates-and-CPF/Initial-advice-on-the-
domestic-use-of-COVID-19-Vaccination-certificates.pdf 
 
•  Joint Briefing: The Domestic use of COVID-19  Vaccination Certificates in High-Risk 
Settings 
- 
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive-Releases/Alert-levels-and-
restrictions/10-Dec-2021/Vaccine-Certificates-and-CPF/The-domestic-use-of-COVID-
19-Certificates-in-high-risk-settings.pdf 
 
You  have  the  right  to  ask  the  Ombudsman  to  investigate  and  review  my  decision  under 
section 28(3) of the Act. 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
 
Chris Gianos  
Head of Operations and Risk 
 
4741101 
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