15 July 2024
By email:
[FYI request #27507 email]
Tēnā koe Sarah
Official information request for BORA assessments relating to COVID-19 vaccine
mandates
Our Ref: OIA353/1
1.
I refer to your official information request dated 5 July 2024 for “
all BORA
assessments/vetting documents, or any documents referencing these, that relate
to Covid-19 vaccination mandates.”
Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020
2.
Vaccination mandates were generally authorised by the Covid-19 Public Health
Response Act 2020 (
Act). Advice to the Attorney-General regarding the
consistency of Bills (including the Covid-19 Public Health Response Bill) with the
New Zealand
Bill
of
Rights
Act
1990
is
usually
published
at:
https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/constitutional-issues-and-
human-rights/the-bill-of-rights-act/advice/.
3.
This part of your request is refused under s 18(d) of the Official Information Act
1982 (
OIA); the information requested is already publicly available. You have the
right to seek an investigation and review of this decision by the Ombudsman.
Information
about
how
to
make
a
complaint
is
available
at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz, or freephone 0800 802 602.
Orders under the Act
4.
Individual vaccination mandates were generally effected by Orders made under
the Act. Bill of Rights Act assessments/vetting documents in relation to those
Orders were generally not published. Documents containing those assessments
are more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry of Health. We
therefore transfer your request, pursuant to by s 14(b)(ii) of the OIA.
Yours faithfully
Crown Law
Daniel Perkins
Senior Crown Counsel
Level 2 Justice Centre, 19 Aitken Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 2858 or DX SP20208, Wellington 6140, New Zealand | +64 4 472 1719 | crownlaw.govt.nz
8032842