Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wellington
T 04 918 8800 |
F 04 918 8820
[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
16 June 2023
Erika Whittome
[FYI request #22888 email]
Ref: OIA 104812
Tēnā koe Erica
Official Information Act request: COVID-19 mandates
I refer to your request of 23 May 2023, to the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry), requesting
under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) information in relation to the Ministry staff
impacted by the COVID-19 vaccination mandates.
On 1 June 2023, the Ministry contacted you to clarify the period your request related to, as
its COVID-19 vaccination policy did not come into effect until 1 February 2022. On 12 June
2023, you confirmed that your request could be clarified as the following:
Please respond to the original question. Thank you for your clarity on when you did
require vaccinations.
I have responded to each part of your request below.
1. I understand vaccination mandates were dropped sometime around Sept 2022
with the revoking of certain C19 orders by the State.
All Government vaccination mandates were lifted in September 2022. The Ministry's
COVID-19 vaccination policy came into effect on 1 February 2021, requiring employees to
be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if entering or working at a Ministry or a court site.
Following public health and Government advice, the policy was updated in June 2022.
Although still strongly encouraged, the Ministry determined that employees were no longer
required to be vaccinated to enter or work at the Ministry’s sites.
2. What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of " extended leave"
due to your vaccination mandates around Nov/Dec 2021 and Jan 2022?
Between 1 November 2021 and 31 January 2022, no Ministry employees were terminated
due to Government vaccination mandates or the Ministry’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.
3. Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today.
Please find the relevant headcount figures in the table below:
15 Nov 2021
23 May 2023
Ministry of Justice (excluding Te Arawhiti)
4,309
4,619
Te Arawhiti
194
186
Ministry of Justice (including Te Arawhiti)
4,503
4,805
*Note – the headcount figures include fixed term and permanent staff only
If you require any further information, please contact Media & Social Media Manager Joe
Locke at [email address].
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at: justice.govt.nz/about/official-information-act-requests/oia-responses/.
You have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act.
The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted by email to
[email address] or by phone on 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Tina Wakefield
Deputy Secretary, Corporate & Digital Services
