1 November 2024
JS
[FYI request #28715 email] Tēnā koe
Your request for official information, reference: HNZ00068220
Thank you for your email on 10 October 2024, asking Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
for the following under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“I am writing to follow up a previous Official Information Act (OIA) request submitted
on 14 August 2024 by Jeeves Ponzi, "Disclosure of information to a meeting around
potential cost savings in Hospital and Specialist Service", which is now overdue by
two months. I have yet to receive a response or a status update.
Therefore, I now request the following information under the Official Information Act
1982:
1. All internal communications (including but not limited to emails, memos, meeting
notes, and instant messages) relating to the original OIA request, including any
discussions, deliberations, or correspondence between staff within Health New
Zealand concerning the request.
2. All external communications relating to the original OIA request, including any
correspondence, advice, or updates sent to or received from the Minister of Health’s
Office, any other Minister’s Office, or any other government department or agency.
3. All records of discussions or decisions about extensions or delays regarding the
processing of the original OIA request, including reasons for any delays or decisions
not to meet the statutory deadline.
Please ensure this request includes all relevant material from any date, up to and
including the date on which you respond to this request.”
Response
Health NZ would like to provide further clarification as to your previous request,
HNZ00060797 which was received on 14 August 2024.
On 11 September 2024, we advised that an extension of the request would be required due
to the necessary consultations prior to the release of the information. Unfortunately, we did
not provide ourselves sufficient time in the original extension to complete the necessary
reviews/consultations.
On 15 October 2024, Health NZ provided our response to your request including the full
presentation and all correspondence found to be within scope of your request.
At the time of this release, we apologized for our delay, however, I would like to further
acknowledge this delay. The time taken is not what we aspire to. This is something we are
working to get on top of as we deal with a high volume of requests and the understandably
high public interest in our work.
When we became aware that we would require additional time, further to the extension, for
the reviews/consultations necessary for the release, we should have communicated this to
you. This is something we will look to incorporate into our OIA processes.
Please see attached
Appendix One which contains all correspondence relating to requests
for information received about the GDOs and Clinical Leaders hui on 13 August 2024 up until
the date your request was received, 10 October 2024.
Health NZ received a high volume of official information requests for information relating to
the GDO and Clinical Leaders hui. Therefore, requests were managed together rather than
on an individual basis. As such, some of the information included has references to another
request, ref. HNZ00060717.
Please note that some information within the attached correspondence has been withheld
under the following sections of the Act:
• Section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased
natural persons,
• Section 9(2)(g)(i) – to protect free and frank expression of relevant staff, ensuring
they are able to convey their unguarded opinions in future, which is a core part of
their role,
• Section 9(2)(h) – to maintain legal professional privilege.
Additionally, some information has been withheld as it is out of scope of your request.
Where we have withheld information under section 9 of the Act, we have also considered
any countervailing public interests in the release of this information. We do not believe that
the public interests outweigh the need to withhold, in this instance.
Noting that all draft versions of response letters have also been withheld in full under section
9(2)(g)(i) of the Act. This is in line with the Ombudsman’s guidance on the release of draft
responses and correspondence relating to the drafting of an OIA response, here:
Request
for draft responses to OIA requests | Ombudsman New Zealand.
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[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
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Health NZ may
proactively release a copy of this response on our website. All requester data, including your
name and contact details, will be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Danielle Coe
Manager (OIA) Government Services
Health New Zealand I Te Whatu Ora
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Health NZ, PO Box 793,
Wellington 6140, New Zealand
