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Health Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) actions against unvaccinated health practitioners

Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health

This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Erika Whittome to read a recent response and update the status.

From: Erika Whittome

Dear Ministry of Health,
This previous OIA records the number of health professionals expelled due to not taking a Covid-19 vaccine in 2022 https://fyi.org.nz/request/18233/respons...

Another OIA records that Te Whatu Ora the (DHBs) have no record of hiring these unvaccinated staff back https://fyi.org.nz/request/24019-hiring-..., and it also shares that there are over 7000 staff vacancies at the DHBs.

Beginning in 2021, the HPDT has had many cases where a practitioner’s “conduct” is under review for not promoting or acting in accordance with the government’s response to Covid-19 with its vaccination inducement. Section 34 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 is clear that referal to the Professional Conduct Committees is contingent upon “ a risk of harm to the public by practising below the required standard of competence”. Some of these HPDT cases appear to be characterised as “Covid-19” and/or "misconduct" charges for not promoting covid-19 vaccination on the HPDT decisions site https://www.hpdt.org.nz/Search-Decisions .

Please share:
1 . Under part 3, section 34, please share the number of cases you have initiated on the above grounds.

2. Number of cases closed or abandoned and no further action has been taken (Stayed/struck out/withdrawn).

3. Number of cases in progress.

4. Number of cases concluded with conviction and/or professional misconduct.

5. Number of health professionals who have been fined and/or lost their practising licenses/certificates as a result of HPDT investigations.

6. The total cost in legal fees for each of the above 5 items, please include travel disbursements, witness appearance fees etc

7. Number of cases where The Evidence Act 2006 has been disregarded on the grounds that “the Tribunal may regulate its procedure in any manner it thinks fit” (para 21 of 1354/Nur22/557)

8. Number of decisions and preliminary/interlocutory decision with non-publication such as 1354/Nur22/557 which is not published on the HPDT decisions website https://www.hpdt.org.nz/Search-Decisions

9. Number of name suppression / non-publication orders people involved in all these cases.

10. Length of time for these decisions/interlocutories to be published

11. In the most recent financial year, what is the cost to the Ministry of Health for the operation of all the Professional Conduct Committees in the health industry?

12. Would you please share the most recent audit report on the HPDT ?

13 The number of complaints to the Health Integrity Line about the HPDT from 2021 to date?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika,
  
Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2024036735
  
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 
[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

 

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Kia ora Erika,
Please find attached our response to your official information request.

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

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References

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1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

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From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,
Thank for the update. I am still waiting on the information please.

Please transfer this request questions 1 to 12 to the Minister of Health, given he is the person with the power to appoint or remove the tribunal boards under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for your email. You request does not meet the requirements to be
transferred under section 14(b) of the OIA. The Ministry does not believe
the information you are seeking is held by the Minister. 
As you have been advised, 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: Erika Whittome <[FOI #25904 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 14 March 2024 07:34
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your official information request ref:
H2024036735
 
Dear OIA Requests,
Thank for the update. I am still waiting on the information please.

Please transfer this request questions 1 to 12 to the Minister of Health,
given he is the person with the power to appoint or remove the tribunal
boards under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,
I requested information on a tribunal that makes decisions on government funded health professionals (as well as privately funded health health professionals).

Is this tribunal part of the courts system?
Who holds this tribunal accountable for its decisions?

What information obligations are there for this tribunal to contribute to the body of common law when the decisions are not made public and there appears to be many decisions that have non publication ?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) on 16 March 2024:
 
I requested information on a tribunal that makes decisions on government
funded health professionals (as well as privately funded health health
professionals). 
Is this tribunal part of the courts system? 
Who holds this tribunal accountable for its decisions? 
What information obligations are there for this tribunal to contribute to
the body of common law when the decisions are not made public and there
appears to be many decisions that have  non publication ?
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 16 April 2024, being 20 working days after the day
your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by
then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries regarding your request, please feel free to
contact the OIA Services Team on [1][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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
 

OIA Services Team
[3]Manatū Hauora information releases
[4][IMG] [5][IMG] [6][IMG] [7][IMG]

 

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References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. https://www.facebook.com/minhealthnz/
5. https://twitter.com/minhealthnz
6. https://www.youtube.com/minhealthnz
7. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ministr...

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika,
Thank you for your follow up email. 

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal is established pursuant to
the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA). It is not a
court, however decisions of the tribunal are appealable to either the High
Court or the District Court. 

Please see section 106 of the HPCA:
[1]https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...
section 113 of the HPCA which provide rights of appeal. The decisions of
the tribunal will also be subject to usual administrative law processes
such as judicial review. These processes provide accountability.
Additionally, hearings are generally public, subject to limited exceptions
(see s 95).

As advised, the tribunal is separate from the Ministry and the Ministry
cannot speak for the Tribunal in relation to its publication decisions.
Also as mentioned, the Tribunal is not subject to the OIA and therefore a
transfer is not appropriate and there is no reason to believe that another
agency subject to the OIA will hold this information.

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
U[3]nite against COVID-19 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #25904 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 16 March 2024 20:35
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your official information request ref:
H2024036735
 
Dear OIA Requests,
I requested information on a tribunal that makes decisions on government
funded health professionals (as well as privately funded health health
professionals).

Is this tribunal part of the courts system?
Who holds this tribunal accountable for its decisions?

What information obligations are there for this tribunal to contribute to
the body of common law when the decisions are not made public and there
appears to be many decisions that have  non publication ?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,
Please send this request to the Minister of Health. According to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act.

Section 85: The chairperson and each deputy chairperson are appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, after consultation by the Minister with any persons that the Minister thinks fi

Section122B mentions annual reports.

So this information exists according to the act. Kindly supply the information which the Minister is accountable for.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika,

  

Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2024049712

  

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 

[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

 

 

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia or Erika,

 

Please find attached our response to your request for official
information.

 

Ngā mihi 

  

 

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

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From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,

I see the Associate Minister of Health has appointed a new person on the HPDT. https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-g...
The MoH clearly funds this HPDT. Can you please answer these 2 questions
11 In the most recent financial year, what is the cost to the Ministry of Health for the operation of all the Professional Conduct Committees in the health industry?

12. Would you please share the most recent audit report on the HPDT ?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika

  

Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2024055519

  

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, The Ministry of
Health 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 

[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

 

 
From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #25904 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 7 November 2024 09:29
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to you r request for official information ref:
H2024049712 CRM:0294699
 
Dear OIA Requests,

I see the Associate Minister of Health has appointed a new person on the
HPDT.
[5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
The MoH clearly funds this HPDT. Can you please answer these 2 questions
11 In the most recent financial year, what is the cost to the Ministry of
Health for the operation of all the Professional Conduct Committees in the
health industry?

12. Would you please share the most recent audit report on the HPDT ?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

 
 

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References

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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-g...

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika,

 

Please find attached a response to your request for official information.

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 

 

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1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

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From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,
The administering agency of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 is the Ministry of Health.

The act also says that proceedings are public in s95 "Hearings to be public unless Tribunal orders otherwise". Would you kindly share the requested information about the HPDT?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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Kia ora Erika,
 
Thank you for your email on 5 December 2024 regarding the Ministry’s
response to your request for information (H2024055519 refers).
 
The Ministry is the administering agency for the Health Practitioners
Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act). However, the Health Practitioners
Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) is a separate legal entity from the Ministry.
The Ministry does not hold the HPDT’s records; therefore, your request is
refused in full under section 18(g)(i) of the Act, as the information
requested is not held by the Ministry and there are no grounds for
believing it is held by another agency subject to the Act. We suggest
contacting the HPDT directly at: [1][email address] however noting they
are not subject to the OIA to respond. Further information about the HPDT
is available at: [2]https://www.hpdt.org.nz/.   
 
Ngâ mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[3]inistry of Health information releases 

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Athina Andonatou left an annotation ()

Thank you Erika, it really is a war of attrition, they're assuming people will just give up. Please continue holding them to account and worst case scenario there is a public record.

Link to this

From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,

I understand that the chief legal advisor at the Ministry of Health has oversight of breaches of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. Would you kindly share the information on the reports and documents that have been requested in this OIA? The HPDT follows this act.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H2024059014.  

 

Please be advised that due dates for requests received from 27 November
2024 onwards will take into account the summer holidays (25 December 2024
to 15 January 2025). Please refer to this guide for an explanation of the
[1]statutory obligations under the Official Information Act 1982.  

 

You can expect a reply no later than 11 February. If we are unable to
respond to your request within this time frame, we will notify you of an
extension of that time frame. 

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch. 

 

Ngā mihi 
 
OIA Services Team 
[2]Ministry of Health information releases 

 
Dear OIA Requests,

I understand that the chief legal advisor at the Ministry of Health has
oversight of breaches of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act
2003. Would you kindly share the information on the reports and documents
that have been requested in this OIA? The HPDT follows this act.

Yours sincerely,
 
Erika Whittome

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1. https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/reso...
https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/reso...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

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Kia ora Erika
Please see attached a response to your request for official information.

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 

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1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

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From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,

I have made a complaint to the Ombudsman because information has not been supplied.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

Link to this

From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,
Would you please transfer this to the Chief Legal Advisor for the MoH? He has said in another matter:
"I am employed as the Chief Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Health (the Ministry). I have held this role since joining the Ministry in January 2008. Amongst other things, I am responsible for oversight of legal services for the Ministry of Health. In particular, as part of the COVID-19 response, my team and I were involved in the development and implementation of legal instruments (such as the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (Vaccinations Order)) as well as providing a range of legal services for the Ministry, such as contractual and commercial advice, legislative reform and litigation management. I also have Privacy and Enforcement responsibilities, including oversight of enforcement of breaches of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (and associated instruments) and Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. "

Given the Chief Legal Advisor for the MoH says that he has oversight of enforcement of breaches of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, I request again the information on unvaccinated health practitioners, please under the Official Information Act from the MoH.

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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Kia ora Erika,

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health on 28 May 2025. You requested:

 

"Would you please transfer this to the Chief Legal Advisor for the MoH? He
has said in another matter:
"I am employed as the Chief Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Health (the
Ministry). I have held this role since joining the Ministry in January
2008. Amongst other things, I am responsible for oversight of legal
services for the Ministry of Health. In particular, as part of the
COVID-19 response, my team and I were involved in the development and
implementation of legal instruments (such as the COVID-19 Public Health
Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (Vaccinations Order)) as well as
providing a range of legal services for the Ministry, such as contractual
and commercial advice, legislative reform and litigation management. I
also have Privacy and Enforcement responsibilities, including oversight of
enforcement of breaches of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020
(and associated instruments) and Health Practitioners Competence Assurance
Act 2003. "

Given the Chief Legal Advisor for the MoH says that he has oversight of
enforcement of breaches of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance
Act 2003, I request again the information on unvaccinated health
practitioners, please under the Official Information Act from the MoH."

 

The reference number for your request is H2025067731. As required under
the Act, the Ministry will endeavour to respond to your request no later
than 20 working days after the day your request was received:
http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.   

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([1][email address]).

 

 

Ngā mihi 
 
OIA Services Team 
[2]Ministry of Health information releases 

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2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

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From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA Requests,
What is the status of this request please?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

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Kia ora Erika

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health – Manatû Hauora (the Ministry) on 28 May
2025 for:

 

"Would you please transfer this to the Chief Legal Advisor for the MoH? He
has said in another matter:

"I am employed as the Chief Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Health (the
Ministry). I have held this role since joining the Ministry in January
2008. Amongst other things, I am responsible for oversight of legal
services for the Ministry of Health. In particular, as part of the
COVID-19 response, my team and I were involved in the development and
implementation of legal instruments (such as the COVID-19 Public Health
Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (Vaccinations Order)) as well as
providing a range of legal services for the Ministry, such as contractual
and commercial advice, legislative reform and litigation management. I
also have Privacy and Enforcement responsibilities, including oversight of
enforcement of breaches of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020
(and associated instruments) and Health Practitioners Competence Assurance
Act 2003. "

Given the Chief Legal Advisor for the MoH says that he has oversight of
enforcement of breaches of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance
Act 2003, I request again the information on unvaccinated health
practitioners, please under the Official Information Act from the MoH."

 

As you were advised in your previous response (H2024059014 refers), the
information you seek is not held by the Ministry or another agency subject
to the Act. The Ministry stands by its decision to refuse your request
under section 18(g)(i) of the Act 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: [email address] or by calling 0800 802
602.

 

 

Ngâ mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Ministry of Health  | Manatû Hauora 

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 

 

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SPENCER JONES left an annotation ()

**🚨 Obfuscation Surrounding Disciplinary Action Against Unvaccinated Health Practitioners**

Kia ora Erika — thank you for this detailed and important OIA. I fully support your pursuit of transparency on HPDT actions against unvaccinated or non-compliant health practitioners under the COVID-19 vaccination mandates.

The Ministry of Health's responses (dated 13 March, 1 July, and 7 November 2024) reveal a **clear pattern of obfuscation** that others following this thread should be aware of:
---
### ⚠️ **Key Obfuscation Tactics Identified:**

1. **Blanket Refusal Under Section 18(g)(i)**
The Ministry claims not to hold any relevant information for questions 1–11, despite playing a central role in enforcing mandates and **funding the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT)**. It is implausible that they hold no case, cost, or outcome data when the disciplinary framework was driven by their policy.

2. **Sidestepping Funding Role**
The Ministry later acknowledges (in Nov 2024) that it funds the HPDT but refuses to release any **financial records**—such as Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) costs—even when directly asked. This strongly suggests intentional avoidance of transparency.

3. **No Assistance or Redirection (s13 breach)**
The Ministry made no real attempt to assist under **section 13 of the OIA** or transfer requests under s14 to entities that might hold relevant information (e.g., Medical Council, HPDT secretariat). This procedural failure is legally and ethically significant.

4. **Misleading Referral to HPDT Website**
Pointing to [www.hpdt.org.nz](http://www.hpdt.org.nz) without guidance on locating COVID-19-related cases (or confirming their existence) is effectively a **deflection**, not a response. Many disciplinary decisions from 2021–2023 appear to involve vaccination conduct, yet the Ministry claims total ignorance.

5. **Narrow Interpretation of Oversight Requests**
Denying the existence of an “audit report” while ignoring the possibility of **performance reports, appointment memos, or funding audits** further undermines their claim of non-possession.

6. **Redundant Acknowledgment Letter (1 July 2024)**
Issuing a boilerplate acknowledgment *after already refusing the bulk of the request* causes confusion and contributes to the perception of bureaucratic delay.

7. **No Follow-up on Transferred Complaint Data (Question 13)**
The Ministry transferred this to Health New Zealand in March 2024 but has not updated or confirmed closure—another failure to assist or close the loop.
---
### 🔎 **Context That Undermines Their Position**:

* The Ministry funds the HPDT and the Associate Minister appoints its members.
* In 2022 alone, **405 health practitioners** were reportedly deregistered or disciplined due to vaccine non-compliance (ref: OIA H2022067986).
* A known workforce gap of **7,000 health roles** followed mandate enforcement.
* HPDT decisions publicly cite "misconduct" for not promoting vaccination, yet the Ministry insists it has no insight into any of this.
---
### ✅ Recommended Next Steps:

1. **Submit a Follow-up OIA**
Ask the MoH for:

* Total funding allocated to the HPDT (2021–2023),
* Any correspondence with Responsible Authorities about vaccine-related referrals or conduct,
* Minutes or briefing notes concerning HPDT appointments or oversight.

2. **Contact Health New Zealand (HNZ)**
Follow up on **Question 13** (Health Integrity Line complaints) with HNZ directly at **[oia@hanz.health.nz](mailto:oia@hanz.health.nz)** to ensure the complaint data is released.

3. **Lodge an Ombudsman Complaint**
Highlight the Ministry’s:

* Failure to assist (s13),
* Incomplete responses regarding known funding and oversight roles,
* Implausible denial of data connected to a centrally enforced health mandate.

4. **Search HPDT Decisions (with caution)**
Some decisions are public at [www.hpdt.org.nz/Search-Decisions](https://www.hpdt.org.nz/Search-Decisions), but may not be easily searchable by COVID-19 relevance. You may need to manually review 2021–2023 cases tagged as “misconduct” or involving scope-of-practice issues.
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### 📣 Final Word:

This OIA response reinforces concerns about **systemic evasion** within agencies tasked with managing controversial pandemic-era policies. The refusal to disclose even basic data — like HPDT funding or PCC costs — raises serious questions about **transparency, accountability, and the suppression of uncomfortable truths**.

I’ve shared this matter with the **COVID-19 After Action Review Commission** to highlight a wider pattern of state obfuscation. Your continued advocacy is deeply appreciated and vital to ensuring public confidence in our health and legal systems.

Kind regards,
Spencer Jones,

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