133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
6 October 2023
Erika Whittome
By email: [FYI request #24076 email]
Ref:
H2023031525
Tēnā koe Erika
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū
Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 8 September 2023 for information regarding exemptions
for unvaccinated workers under clause 9(a) of the COVID-19 Public Health Response
(Vaccinations) Order 2021. You requested:
“1. How many such 9a requests were received from PCBUs?
2. How many were approved by the Director General? 3. A breakdown by industry for the above two items.”
As you may be aware, we have recently undergone a health system reform which resulted in
the establishment of new agencies Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai
Ora – Māori Health Authority on 1 July 2022. As such, a number of functions and teams that
once sat within Manatū Hauora transferred to the new agencies. Specifically, the COVID-19
operational functions transferred to Te Whatu Ora.
Since then, the COVID-19 health system response has begun to wind down, along with the
revocation of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 on 26
September 2022, and a number of teams that were stood up during the pandemic have
ceased to exist, with some staff no longer working at either Manatū Hauora or Te Whatu
Ora.
As a result, and despite our best efforts, we have been unable to successfully locate the
information you have requested. We have searched for the requested information with the
respective teams at Manatū Hauora and have not found any such records. We have also
consulted with Te Whatu Ora to determine whether they hold this information, but they have
also not been successful. As such the information you have requested regarding clause 9(a)
exemptions is refused under section 18(e) of the Act as the information requested cannot be
found despite reasonable efforts to locate it.
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:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-
releases/responses-official-information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Jan Torres
Manager OIA Services Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga
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