The number of Covid 19 vaccination exemptions granted by the Deparment of Corrections.

Colin Whiting made this Official Information request to Department of Corrections

The request was successful.

From: Colin Whiting

Dear Department of Corrections,

1 : How many exemptions were given by the 'Department of Corrections' to Corrections staff, under clause 9 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (version as of 25 Oct 2021) ? As quoted below.

2: Also how many exemptions were given by the Department of Corrections to staff working in Prisons for private contractors, under clause 9 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (version as of 25 Oct 2021) ? As quoted below.

"Clause 9 amended (Chief executive may authorise affected persons not vaccinated to carry out certain work)"

Yours faithfully,

Colin Whiting

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora,

 

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If your request is urgent please contact the prison
[1]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...

 

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Ngā mihi | Kind regards,

 

The Ministerial Services Team

[2][Department of Corrections request email]

 

 

 

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora,

Thank you for your email.

If you are requesting information we are required to comply with the Privacy Act 2020, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Victims Rights Act 2002.

Depending on the nature of your request you may not receive an official response for up to 20 working days.

We will respond to you in due course.

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections


Attachment C174485 Extension.pdf
263K Download View as HTML


Kia ora Colin

Please see attached correspondence from Corrections.

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections


Attachment C174485 Response.pdf
408K Download View as HTML


Kia ora

Please see attached correspondence from Corrections.

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

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From: Colin Whiting

Dear Info@Corrections,Thankyou for your reply.

You have stated that no staff employed by Private contractors working within Corrections received Clause 9 operational exemptions.
You have not answered the first part of my question. (Those staff directly employed by Corrections)
"How many exemptions were given by the 'Department of Corrections' to
Corrections staff, under clause 9 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response
(Vaccinations) Order 2021 (version as of 25 Oct 2021) ?"

Yours sincerely,

Colin Whiting

Link to this

From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora,

 

Thank you for getting in touch with the Ministerial Services team.

PLEASE NOTE - the [Department of Corrections request email]  inbox is monitored from 8.00am
- 4.00pm - Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

If your request is urgent please contact the prison
[1]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...

 

This is an automatic reply to confirm we have received your email and we
will contact you if any further information is required.  Please do not
reply to this message.

 

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,

 

The Ministerial Services Team

[2][Department of Corrections request email]

 

 

 

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora

The response to question 1 relating to Corrections' staff can be found on page 2:

"Under clause 9, the Chief Executive authorised 220 Corrections staff to return to work following their recovery from COVID-19. It is important to note that public health guidance discourages vaccination for six months following an infection of COVID-19. More information can be found on the Ministry of Health website at https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

Please let us know if you require further information.

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

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From: Colin Whiting

Dear Info@Corrections, Thankyou for your reply.

I have still not received a satisfactory answer to my original request. Which I have copied and pasted below.
1 : How many exemptions were given by the 'Department of Corrections' to Corrections staff, under clause 9 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (version as of 25 Oct 2021)

Below I have copied and pasted Clause 9.
"9 Relevant chief executive may authorise affected persons not vaccinated or who have not received booster dose to carry out certain work"
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulati...

I would like to know how many Covid 19 vaccination exemptions were issued under this clause.
Please do not include temporary Medical exemptions. There is no medical requirement mentioned in this clause.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Whiting

Link to this

From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora,

 

Thank you for getting in touch with the Ministerial Services team.

PLEASE NOTE - the [1][Department of Corrections request email]  inbox is monitored from
8.00am - 4.00pm - Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

If your request is urgent and relates to the wellbeing or safety of
someone in prison, please contact the prison directly. Contact details for
all prisons can be found here:
[2]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...

If your query relates to the immediate safety of the community or you are
in danger, please contact Police on 111.

 

This is an automatic reply to confirm we have received your email and we
will contact you if any further information is required.  Please do not
reply to this message.

 

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,

 

The Ministerial Services Team

[3][Department of Corrections request email]

 

 

 

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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora

We misinterpreted question one when responding to your request on 17 November 2023.

Corrections did not grant any exemptions to staff or contractors under clause 9 of the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (version as at 25 Oct 2021). In accordance with clause 7A, The Chief Executive authorised 220 Corrections staff to return to work following their recovery from Covid-19.

Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

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From: Colin Whiting

Dear Info@Corrections,
Thankyou for your reply.
I believe that my request has now been answered.
Your answers have created more questions, that I'll address in a new FOIA request.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Whiting

Link to this

From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections

Kia ora,

Thank you for getting in touch with the Ministerial Services team.

PLEASE NOTE - the [1][Department of Corrections request email]  inbox is monitored from
8.00am - 4.00pm - Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

PLEASE NOTE - from 27 November 2023, depending on the nature of your
request, you may not receive an official response for up to 20 working
days.  The period from 27 December 2023 to 15 January 2024  inclusive is
not considered “working days”.
[2]Refer to this guide for an explanation of the statutory obligations.

If your request is urgent and relates to the wellbeing or safety of
someone in prison, please contact the prison directly. Contact details for
all prisons can be found here:
[3]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...

If your query relates to the immediate safety of the community or you are
in danger, please contact Police on 111.

This is an automatic reply to confirm we have received your email and we
will contact you if any further information is required.  Please do not
reply to this message.

Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,

The Ministerial Services Team

[4][Department of Corrections request email]

 

 

 

 

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