25 June 2024
Erika Whittome
[FYI request #27037 email]
Tēnā koe Erika
Thank you for your email request on 28 May 2024 to Oranga Tamariki— Ministry
for Children (Oranga Tamariki), requesting the following information under Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Between December 2021 to sometime in Sept 2022, OT had in place a
mandated vaccination policy for staff, yet the Ministry of Children workers
were not listed as one of the affected groups in the Covid-19 Public Health
(Vaccinations) Order 2021.
Under the Official Information Act, provide the following information:
1.
Was Covid 19 a disease reported to Worksafe by OT?
2.
Did Covid 19 arise out of the nature of work at OT?
3.
Is there or was there in the past, any genetic “gain of function” work
taking place at OT on corona viruses, or the nursing of corona virus
patients?
4.
The written authorisation from the Director General specifying persons
at OT who were authorised enforcement person(s) under section 18 (2)
the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020. Please provide the
functions and powers that could be carried out by the authorised
enforcement person(s) and;
5.
Number of exemptions issued to OT workers under clause 9 of the Covid
19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021;
6.
Any other exemptions issued to staff, please provide grounds and
number issued and;
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7.
In relation to covid 19 vaccines, any payment OT and/or its subsidiaries
received for each staff member that was vaccinated, the amount and the
scheme the payment was provided under and;
8.
Any payment OT and/or its subsidiaries received for leasing or renting
floor space for vaccination in 2021 and 2022 , eg super Saturdays
events at any of your facilities. Please include the amount and the
scheme the payment was provided under.
The consultations necessary to make a decision on this request are such that a
proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. For this
reason, we are extending the time limit for providing you with the information to 24
July 2024, in accordance with section 15A(1)(b) of the Act. We will try to respond
sooner than this date if possible.
Should you wish to discuss any part of your request with us, please do not hesitate
to contact us at
[email address]. If you are not satisfied with this
response, you have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review this decision.
Information about this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by
contacting them on 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Jarrod Williams
Manager Ministerial Support
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