Health and safety designations at the Ministry of Health during C19
Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Health New Zealand
The request was refused by Health New Zealand.
From: Erika Whittome
Dear Health New Zealand,
1. What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
2. What designations did the DHBs receive under section 191 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in order to act as a regulator for health and safety matters?
Yours faithfully,
Erika Whittome
From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for contacting Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ. This is an automatic
reply to confirm that we have received your email. Depending on the
nature of your request you may not receive a response for up to 20 working
days. We will try to respond to your query as quickly as possible.
Ngā mihi
Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ.
****************************************************************************
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hide quoted sections
From: Tane Griffin
Health New Zealand
Tēnā koe
Thank you for your email of 11 September 2023, asking for the following
information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at
DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
2. What designations did the DHBs receive under section 191 of the Health
and Safety at Work Act 2015 in order to act as a regulator for health and
safety matters?
This email is to let you know that Te Whatu Ora needs more time to make a
decision on your request.
The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are
therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our
decision, to 13 October 2023
This extension is required because the consultations necessary to make a
decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably
be made within the original time limit.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [1][Health New Zealand request email]
If you are not happy with this extension, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Nāku iti noā ngā
Tane Griffin
Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief Executive
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
****************************************************************************
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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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From: Tane Griffin
Health New Zealand
Tena koe
Apologies please note a correction in due date for extension.
Due date is now 13 November 2023.
Nāku iti noā ngā
Tane Griffin
Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief Executive
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Tane Griffin <[email address]>;
Received: Mon Oct 09 2023 11:06:42 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
To: Erika Whittome <[FOI #24095 email]>;
Subject: Te Whatu Ora needs more time to make a decision on your request
HNZ00029810 CRM:0438033
Tēnā koe
Thank you for your email of 11 September 2023, asking for the following
information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at
DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
2. What designations did the DHBs receive under section 191 of the Health
and Safety at Work Act 2015 in order to act as a regulator for health and
safety matters?
This email is to let you know that Te Whatu Ora needs more time to make a
decision on your request.
The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are
therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our
decision, to 13 October 2023
This extension is required because the consultations necessary to make a
decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably
be made within the original time limit.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [1][Health New Zealand request email]
If you are not happy with this extension, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Nāku iti noā ngā
Tane Griffin
Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief Executive
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
****************************************************************************
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
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1. mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]
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From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand
Kia ora
Thank you for your request o for the following information:
1. What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at
DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
2. What designations did the DHBs receive under section 191 of the Health
and Safety at Work Act 2015 in order to act as a regulator for health and
safety matters?
Your request asks for information which is more closely aligned with the
functions of the Ministry of Health, Manatū Hauora. For this reason, Te
Whatu Ora has decided to transfer your request in full to [insert
organisation] under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act. You can expect a
response from [insert organisation] in due course.
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. If you have any queries related to this request, please do not
hesitate to get in touch.
Ngā mihi nui
Tane
Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief Executive
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
****************************************************************************
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
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1. mailto:[email address]
hide quoted sections
From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand
Kia ora
Thank you for confirming that you accept the following request from Erika
Whittome
1. What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at
DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
2. What designations did the DHBs receive under section 191 of the Health
and Safety at Work Act 2015 in order to act as a regulator for health and
safety matters?
This serves as a formal transfer of this request under section 14 of the
Official Information Act.
Ngâ mihi nui
Tane
Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief Executive
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
****************************************************************************
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.
****************************************************************************
hide quoted sections
From: Erika Whittome
Dear hnzOIA,
On the 11 sept I asked for this info. I have now made a complaint to the ombudsman
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: OIA Requests
Health New Zealand
Kia ora Erika
Regarding your request transferred to the Ministry of Health.
Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2023032578
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: hnzOIA <[email address]>;
Received: Wed Oct 25 2023 09:20:08 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>; OIA <[email address]>;
[FYI request #24095 email];
Subject: Transfer of Official Informtation Act request to your
organisation CRM:0438050
Kia ora
Thank you for confirming that you accept the following request from Erika
Whittome
1. What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at
DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
2. What designations did the DHBs receive under section 191 of the Health
and Safety at Work Act 2015 in order to act as a regulator for health and
safety matters?
This serves as a formal transfer of this request under section 14 of the
Official Information Act.
Ngā mihi nui
Tane
Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief Executive
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
****************************************************************************
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/
hide quoted sections
From: Erika Whittome
Dear OIA Requests,
This from the health and safety at work act 2015 section 93:
93 Misrepresentation
(1)
A person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation to another person about that other person’s—
(a)
rights or obligations under this Act; or
(b)
ability to initiate, or participate in, a process or proceedings under this Act; or
(c)
ability to make a complaint or an inquiry to a person or body empowered under this Act to seek compliance with this Act.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply if the person to whom the representation is made would not be expected to rely on it.
(3)
A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—
(a)
for an individual, to a fine not exceeding $100,000:
(b)
for any other person, to a fine not exceeding $500,000.
Compare: Model Work Health and Safety Act (Aust) s 109
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: hnzOIA
Health New Zealand
Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for your request for information. We are sorry for the delay in
processing your request for information and appreciate your patience.
Please find attached our response to your request.
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][Health New Zealand request email].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngâ mihi,
Tane
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
****************************************************************************
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:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. file:///tmp/foiextract20231102-34-nojmpd#
hide quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Health New Zealand
Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) transferred to Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 25 October
2023 for information regarding the budget allocated for COVID-19 health
and safety activities at DHBs. You requested:
“1. What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at
DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
2. What designations did the DHBs receive under section 191 of the Health
and Safety at Work Act 2015 in order to act as a regulator for health and
safety matters?”
Manatû Hauora understands that you made this request to Te Whatu Ora –
Health New Zealand. Please refer to their response sent to you on 3
November 2023 for this information.
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: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
OIA Services Team
Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[2]inistry of Health information releases
U[3]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. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Erika Whittome
Dear OIA Requests,
Regarding questions 1, I have not received the information on the budget. I would like to provide some clarification about this information request.
My request for information in my OIA was :
What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc
The ombudsman office shared these links:
The Ministry of Health’s Annual report for the year ending 30 June 2022 - https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
And
for Auckland DHB
https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Up... shows the financial impacts of COVID-19 on the DHB (pages 76-77
The financial reports in the links do not distinguish between public health response (for example PPE and vax spending) and workplace safety.
Worksafe have already distinguished between "public health issues" and "workplace risks and hazards" here in another OIA https://fyi.org.nz/request/23394/respons...
The MoH has spent money on workplace health and safety which is evident in this OIA response mentioning "workplace" and "worker" efforts pages 60 & 69 with MoH staff engaging at private companies: https://fyi.org.nz/request/15656/respons...
Fiona Michel and Rachal Mackay appear to have roles for programs in workplace vaccination (not public health matters in DHBs for example). They are programs of work at private corporations.
Please leave this request open and if required transfer to the MoH. I am not satisfied with the information because it does not cover the health and safety activities which would have taken place in workplaces (as opposed to public health response at DHBs, hospitals, quarantines etc).
This request may be for the MoH and I am not clear on where the lines of demarcation lie for DHBs and MoH budgets.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: OIA Requests
Health New Zealand
Tçnâ koe Erika,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) on 1 May 2024.
Manatû Hauora does not hold any information relating to your request;
however, I have been advised that this information is held by Te Whatu Ora
– Health New Zealand. For this reason, I have decided to transfer your
request to their agency under section 14(b)(i) of the Act. You can expect
a response from Te Whatu Ora ([1][email address]) in due
course.
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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health
[3]Ministry of Health information releases
-----Original Message-----
From: Erika Whittome [4][FOI #24095 email]
Sent: Wednesday, 1 May 2024 6:34 am
To: OIA Requests [5][email address]
Subject: Re: Response to your official information Act request:
H2023032578 CRM:0261842
Dear OIA Requests,
Regarding questions 1, I have not received the information on the budget.
I would like to provide some clarification about this information request.
My request for information in my OIA was :
What budget was allocated for Covid 19 health and safety activities at
DHBs for the 2021/2022 financial year? For example Covid advisors, Covid
risk specialist roles, website info pages etc The ombudsman office shared
these links:
The Ministry of Health’s Annual report for the year ending 30 June 2022 -
[6]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
And for Auckland DHB
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
shows the financial impacts of COVID-19 on the DHB (pages 76-77
The financial reports in the links do not distinguish between public
health response (for example PPE and vax spending) and workplace safety.
Worksafe have already distinguished between "public health issues" and
"workplace risks and hazards" here in another OIA
[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
The MoH has spent money on workplace health and safety which is evident in
this OIA response mentioning "workplace" and "worker" efforts pages 60 &
69 with MoH staff engaging at private companies:
[9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Fiona Michel and Rachal Mackay appear to have roles for programs in
workplace vaccination (not public health matters in DHBs for example).
They are programs of work at private corporations.
Please leave this request open and if required transfer to the MoH. I am
not satisfied with the information because it does not cover the health
and safety activities which would have taken place in workplaces (as
opposed to public health response at DHBs, hospitals, quarantines etc).
This request may be for the MoH and I am not clear on where the lines of
demarcation lie for DHBs and MoH budgets.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
****************************************************************************
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. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. mailto:[FOI #24095 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
7. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Up...
8. https://fyi.org.nz/request/23394/respons...
9. https://fyi.org.nz/request/15656/respons...
hide quoted sections
From: hnzOIA
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for contacting Health NZ, Te Whatu Ora. This is an automatic
reply to confirm that we have received your email. Depending on the
nature of your request you may not receive a response for up to 20 working
days. We will try to respond to your query as quickly as possible.
Ngā mihi
Health NZ, Te Whatu Ora.
Statement of confidentiality: This email 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
From: Erika Whittome
Dear hnzOIA,
Today's news has an example of a role at the MoH which is Health and Safety:
"Te Whatu Ora health and safety head Sue Gordon told RNZ the agency wanted to protect people from catching Covid-19 while in hospitals and healthcare facilities."
from "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/5168...
This is an example of a person working in Health and Safety at the MoH/Te Whatu Ora which may assist in providing the requested information.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
From: hnzOIA
Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for your request for information. Please find attached our
response to your request.
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][email address].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi,
Liam
Health New Zealand Government Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
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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:[Health New Zealand request email]
2. file:///tmp/
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