Ref: OI-23-00772
Level 9, 44 The Terrace
PO Box 27048
15 September 2023
Wel ington, New Zealand 6141
P +64 4 462 5200
Erika Whittome
www.tec.govt.nz
By email:
[FYI request #23946 email]
Tēnā koe Erika
Thank you for your request, received on 25 August 2023, for the following information under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
•
Please would you share any communications between you and The University of Auckland
regarding Covid 19 and employment policies from Jan 2022 until the present time.
•
Also please share any health policies for university teaching facilities and university owned halls
of residences or apartments for University of Auckland students from Nov/Dec 2021 until the
present time.
On 25 August 2023 we advised you that the second portion of your request had been transferred to
the University of Auckland for a response.
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) is not involved with university employment policies;
therefore, we are unable to provide you with any communications on this topic.
The Education and Training Act 2020 provides the University of Auckland (UoA) with the freedom to
make operational decisions, including how to manage its staffing. UoA is an autonomous entity, and
the Government nor its agencies are not party to the employment relationship between UoA and its
staff.
I am releasing Covid-19 related communications between the TEC and the UoA from January 2022 to
present as referenced in the attached table.
In accordance with the Official Information Act, I am withholding some information in the released
documents. Redactions are clearly marked in the documents, with the following reasons for the
redactions, as applicable:
• personal contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural
persons, including deceased people,
• maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through, under section 9(2)(g)(ii) – the
protection of such Ministers, members of organisations, officers, and employees from
improper pressure or harassment.
I am satisfied, in terms of section 9(1) of the Act, that the need to withhold the information referred
to above is not outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable, in the public interest, to
make the information available.
TERTIARY EDUCATION REPORT: COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TEC AND UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
R E G A R D I N G C OV ID -19
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Tim Fowler
Chief Executive
Tertiary Education Commission
REPORT NUMBER: OI-23-00772
| 7
Information released under the Official Information Act (1982)
Item
Reference/
No
Date
Document Type
Title
Notes
Release
1
14/01/22 Email
UC and UOA contact management discussion
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a)
2
21/01/22 Email
Online learning options at UoA
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a)
3
01/02/22 Email
Covid case, UoA – notified 30/01/21
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a)
4
15/02/22 Email
Follow up university halls of residence
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), with some
information out of scope
5
20/02/22 Email
Notification of Covid case at Auckland University
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), with some
information out of scope
6
22/02/22 Email
UoA cases
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a)
7
23/02/22 Email
Notification of Covid case at Auckland University
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), with some
information out of scope
8
23/02/22 Email
Universities: Reporting of cases
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
9
23/02/22 Email
UoA cases
Release, with information
withheld under section
TERTIARY EDUCATION REPORT: COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TEC AND UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND REGARDING COVID-19
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
10
24/02/22 Email
Notification of Covid case at Auckland University, Auckland central
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
11
25/02/22 Email
UoA cases
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a)
12
11/03/22 Email
Universities – Covid Case reporting changes
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
13
21/02/22 Email
Universities: Please note updated guidance
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), with some
information out of scope
14
25/03/22 Email
Reminder – reporting weekly case numbers, due midday today
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
15
07/04/22 Email
Reminder – reporting weekly case numbers, due 4pm today
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
16
12/04/22 Email
Universities: vaccine requirements and COVID case reporting changes
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), 9(2)(g)(ii)
17
07/07/22 Email
Change of COVID incident controller at UoA
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a)
18
15/07/22 Email
Covid check in next week with Uni appointed covid person/incident
Release, with information
controller
withheld under section
9(2)(a), with some
information out of scope
19
20/01/23 Email
Covid-19 protection framework enrolling international PhD students
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a), with some
information out of scope
20
PDF
Pandemic contact Trace Process
Release, with information
withheld under section
9(2)(a)
21
PDF
MATRIX Locations of interest pran299 Aug 2021
Release in ful
22
PDF
In case of positive case of covid
Release in ful
23
PDF
HSW 2021-01-26 – Pandemic Contact tracing – v6
Release in ful
REPORT NUMBER: OI-23-00772
| 9
TERTIARY EDUCATION REPORT: COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TEC AND UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND REGARDING COVID-19
24
PDF
Case on campus – comms plan
Release in ful
25
22/02/22 Excel
Cases 220222a
Names redacted
26
23/02/22 Excel
Cases 230222
No withholds
27
25/02/22 Excel
Cases 250222
No withholds
REPORT NUMBER: OI-23-00772
| 10
Document Outline
- Request
- The requestor has links to the No8 Wire Workers Union
- The requestor has made multiple Covid-19 related OIA requests…
- Information to be released
- Sensitivities/Risks
- Consultation
- Response to be published online
- Appendix A: Proposed documents for release
- Information released under the Official Information Act (1982)
