Ministry of Health involvement in Alert Levels in early 2020
Al made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
The request was successful.
From: Al
Hi everyone,
I request:
All documentation, including meeting minutes or other communications, that show alert level creation, development and finalisation between the 20th of February to the 21st of March 2020.
This includes all communications from other government and non-government sources on the development to create and finalise the alert levels that were announced.
This below page notes members of a group who were involved in the public health response and available documents that were developed to support that - I point it out in case there's any confusion as I am not requesting these publicly available documents:
https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/c...
Thank you,
Al Johnson
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Al
Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2023030095
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, Manatū Hauora will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on [2][email address]. If any additional factors come to light which
are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be taken into account.
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: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[4]inistry of Health information releases
U[5]nite against COVID-19
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Al Johnson <[FOI #23672 email]>;
Received: Wed Aug 02 2023 14:15:03 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>; OIA <[email address]>;
Subject: Official Information request - Ministry of Health involvement in
Alert Levels in early 2020
Hi everyone,
I request:
All documentation, including meeting minutes or other communications, that
show alert level creation, development and finalisation between the 20th
of February to the 21st of March 2020.
This includes all communications from other government and non-government
sources on the development to create and finalise the alert levels that
were announced.
This below page notes members of a group who were involved in the public
health response and available documents that were developed to support
that - I point it out in case there's any confusion as I am not requesting
these publicly available documents:
[6]https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/c...
Thank you,
Al Johnson
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #23672 email]
Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
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ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
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2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/c...
7. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Al,
Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
U[2]nite against COVID-19
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
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References
Visible links
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2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Al
Hi everyone,
Thank you for the response. The attached letter that was released within it notes it had "attached COVID-19 alert levels" - could I please be provided with that attachment.
I'd like to make a further request that covers the 20th of March to the 25th of March 2020 for:
1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level advice, refinement, development and finalisation.
2. any and all documentation or communications or messages or meetings, and any non documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to the 25th of March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that occurred on Monday the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then Alert Level 4 48 hours later.
Thank you for your help,
Al Johnson
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Al
Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2023031393
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, Manatū Hauora will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on [2][email address]. If any additional factors come to light which
are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be taken into account.
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: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[4]inistry of Health information releases
U[5]nite against COVID-19
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Brandon Henwood <[email address]>;
Received: Mon Sep 04 2023 10:03:49 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>; OIA <[email address]>;
Subject: Re: Response to your official information act request – ref
H2023030095
Al [6][FOI #23672 email] Sat 2/09/2023 8:47 pm
Hi everyone,
Thank you for the response. The attached letter that was released within
it notes it had "attached COVID-19 alert levels" - could I please be
provided with that attachment.
I'd like to make a further request that covers the 20th of March to the
25th of March 2020 for:
1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level
advice, refinement, development and finalisation.
2. any and all documentation or communications or messages or meetings,
and any non documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to
the 25th of March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that occurred
on Monday the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then Alert
Level 4 48 hours later.
Thank you for your help,
Al Johnson
-----Original Message-----
Kia ora Al,
Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[1]inistry of Health information releases U[2]nite against COVID-19
References
Visible links
1. [7]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2.
[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[9][FOI #23672 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/
6. mailto:[FOI #23672 email]
7. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
8. https://covid19.govt.nz/
9. mailto:[FOI #23672 email]
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Tçnâ koe Al,
Thank you for your follow up request under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act) to Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 4 September
2023. You asked:
“Thank you for the response. The attached letter that was released within
it notes it had "attached COVID-19 alert levels" - could I please be
provided with that attachment. I'd like to make a further request that
covers the 20th of March to the 25th of March 2020 for:
1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level
advice, refinement, development and finalisation.
2. any and all documentation or communications or messages or meetings,
and any non documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to
the 25th of March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that occurred
on Monday the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then Alert
Level 4 48 hours later.”
Please accept our sincere apologies for the oversight of excluding the
appendix ‘COVID-19 Alert Levels’ from your previous request. This appendix
has been published on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (DPMC) website
at: [1]www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-01/COVID-19-Current-state-trajectories-and-interventions.pdf. Please
refer to page 7.
A Cabinet paper and minute from the meeting on 23 March
2020, titled COVID-19 Moving to Alert Level 3 and Level 4 is also in scope
of your request. This is publicly available
at: [2]https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
For your further information, you may be interested in proactively
released material on the New Zealand COVID-19 Response on the DPMC website
at: [3]www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/covid-19-response-2020.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on: [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: [4][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[5]inistry of Health information releases
U[6]nite against COVID-19
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/f....
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive....
3. http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/cov...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
6. https://covid19.govt.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Al
Hi all,
I initially made a request (H2023030095) that released a letter but excluded the attachment that was discussed within that letter.
I then had to make a second request for the attachment (H2023031393) and as part of the second request I additionally requested:
”1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level advice, refinement, development and finalisation. 2. any and all documentation or communications or messages or meetings,and any non documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to the 25th of March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that occurred on Monday the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then AlertLevel 4 48 hours later.”
It’s unfortunate I had to make a 2nd OIA request to be released the attachment to the original letter - I appreciate the apology - but it’s fair that it was treated as a second request as I made an additional request within it.
However - the response to that second request (H2023031393) completely ignored responding to that additional information request. I stated, and continue to say, I am not asking for any publicly available documents (I have seen and read them) and I included in my request: ‘communications, messages and meetings’ over a 5 day period only.
I am not making a 3rd OIA request. This 2nd OIA request (H2023031393) has not been responded to fully with portions completely unanswered in the response that was sent to me dated the 29th of September. I haven't been told there is any issue with scope so this OIA request is not complete and I'd appreciate the OIA request being answered.
Thank you for your continued help,
Al Johnson
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Al,
Thank you for your email. The Ministry is looking into a reconsideration
of your request and will respond in due course.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
U[2]nite against COVID-19
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Al <[FOI #23672 email]>
Sent: Monday, 9 October 2023 09:13
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your official information act request, ref:
H2023031393 CRM:0001491
Hi all,
I initially made a request (H2023030095) that released a letter but
excluded the attachment that was discussed within that letter.
I then had to make a second request for the attachment (H2023031393) and
as part of the second request I additionally requested:
”1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level
advice, refinement, development and finalisation. 2. any and
all documentation or communications or messages or meetings,and any non
documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to the 25th of
March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that occurred on Monday
the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then AlertLevel 4 48
hours later.”
It’s unfortunate I had to make a 2nd OIA request to be released the
attachment to the original letter - I appreciate the apology - but it’s
fair that it was treated as a second request as I made an additional
request within it.
However - the response to that second request (H2023031393) completely
ignored responding to that additional information request. I stated, and
continue to say, I am not asking for any publicly available documents (I
have seen and read them) and I included in my request: ‘communications,
messages and meetings’ over a 5 day period only.
I am not making a 3rd OIA request. This 2nd OIA request (H2023031393) has
not been responded to fully with portions completely unanswered in the
response that was sent to me dated the 29th of September. I haven't been
told there is any issue with scope so this OIA request is not complete and
I'd appreciate the OIA request being answered.
Thank you for your continued help,
Al Johnson
-----Original Message-----
Tçnâ koe Al,
Thank you for your follow up request under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act) to Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 4 September
2023. You asked:
“Thank you for the response. The attached letter that was released within
it notes it had "attached COVID-19 alert levels" - could I please be
provided with that attachment. I'd like to make a further request that
covers the 20th of March to the 25th of March 2020 for:
1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level
advice, refinement, development and finalisation.
2. any and all documentation or communications or messages or meetings,
and any non documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to
the 25th of March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that
occurred
on Monday the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then Alert
Level 4 48 hours later.”
Please accept our sincere apologies for the oversight of excluding the
appendix ‘COVID-19 Alert Levels’ from your previous request. This
appendix
has been published on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (DPMC) website
at: [1]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
refer to page 7.
A Cabinet paper and minute from the meeting on 23 March
2020, titled COVID-19 Moving to Alert Level 3 and Level 4 is also in
scope
of your request. This is publicly available
at: [2]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
For your further information, you may be interested in proactively
released material on the New Zealand COVID-19
Response on the DPMC website
at: [3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on: [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: [4][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[5]inistry of Health information releases
U[6]nite against COVID-19
References
Visible links
1.
[3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo....
2.
[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo....
3.
[5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
4. [6]mailto:[email address]
5. [7]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
6.
[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #23672 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
3. https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/f...
4. https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
5. http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/cov...
6. mailto:[email
7. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
8. https://covid19.govt.nz/
9. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Al
Manatū Hauora has conducted an extensive search through archives as part
of the reconsideration process for the decision made on OIA H2023031393.
However, no correspondence in scope of your request has been identified.
As such, Manatū Hauora stands by the decision made and has nothing further
to add.
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: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[2]inistry of Health information releases
U[3]nite against COVID-19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 30 October 2023 14:05
To: Al <[FOI #23672 email]>
Subject: Re: Response to your official information act request, ref:
H2023031393 CRM:0001491
Kia ora Al,
Thank you for your email. The Ministry is looking into a reconsideration
of your request and will respond in due course.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[4]inistry of Health information releases
U[5]nite against COVID-19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Al <[FOI #23672 email]>
Sent: Monday, 9 October 2023 09:13
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your official information act request, ref:
H2023031393 CRM:0001491
Hi all,
I initially made a request (H2023030095) that released a letter but
excluded the attachment that was discussed within that letter.
I then had to make a second request for the attachment (H2023031393) and
as part of the second request I additionally requested:
”1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level
advice, refinement, development and finalisation. 2. any and
all documentation or communications or messages or meetings,and any non
documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to the 25th of
March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that occurred on Monday
the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then AlertLevel 4 48
hours later.”
It’s unfortunate I had to make a 2nd OIA request to be released the
attachment to the original letter - I appreciate the apology - but it’s
fair that it was treated as a second request as I made an additional
request within it.
However - the response to that second request (H2023031393) completely
ignored responding to that additional information request. I stated, and
continue to say, I am not asking for any publicly available documents (I
have seen and read them) and I included in my request: ‘communications,
messages and meetings’ over a 5 day period only.
I am not making a 3rd OIA request. This 2nd OIA request (H2023031393) has
not been responded to fully with portions completely unanswered in the
response that was sent to me dated the 29th of September. I haven't been
told there is any issue with scope so this OIA request is not complete and
I'd appreciate the OIA request being answered.
Thank you for your continued help,
Al Johnson
-----Original Message-----
Tçnâ koe Al,
Thank you for your follow up request under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act) to Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 4 September
2023. You asked:
“Thank you for the response. The attached letter that was released within
it notes it had "attached COVID-19 alert levels" - could I please be
provided with that attachment. I'd like to make a further request that
covers the 20th of March to the 25th of March 2020 for:
1. any and all documentation or communications that show alert level
advice, refinement, development and finalisation.
2. any and all documentation or communications or messages or meetings,
and any non documented staff recollections, between the 20th of March to
the 25th of March 2020 on advice or feedback around the move that
occurred
on Monday the 23rd to place New Zealand into Alert Level 3 and then Alert
Level 4 48 hours later.”
Please accept our sincere apologies for the oversight of excluding the
appendix ‘COVID-19 Alert Levels’ from your previous request. This
appendix
has been published on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (DPMC) website
at: [1]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
refer to page 7.
A Cabinet paper and minute from the meeting on 23 March
2020, titled COVID-19 Moving to Alert Level 3 and Level 4 is also in
scope
of your request. This is publicly available
at: [2]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
For your further information, you may be interested in proactively
released material on the New Zealand COVID-19
Response on the DPMC website
at: [3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on: [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: [4][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[5]inistry of Health information releases
U[6]nite against COVID-19
References
Visible links
1.
[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo....
2.
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo....
3.
[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
4. [9]mailto:[email address]
5. [10]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
6.
[11]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #23672 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[12]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/
6. https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/f...
7. https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
8. http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/cov...
9. mailto:[email
10. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
11. https://covid19.govt.nz/
12. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
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