Kia ora Chris,

Thank you for your official information request received on 6 December 2024.

Your request below will be considered, and a decision provided in accordance with the requirements of the Official Information Act 1982.

Please note that, in accordance with section 2(1) of the OIA, the period from 25 December to 15 January is excluded from the definition of “working day”.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please email [email address]

Ngâ mihi,

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatû Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Web: www.mpi.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris McCashin <[FOI #29466 email]>
Sent: Friday, 6 December 2024 9:50 am
To: Official Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - H7N6 Bird Flu - Timeline of Events, Protocols and Media Narrative

[You don't often get email from [FOI #29466 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,

I am writing to formally request information under the Official Information Act regarding the recent outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza (H7N6) detected at a poultry farm in Otago, New Zealand. There are a number of concerning aspects that we are being told to believe therefore please provide

The timeline of events from the initial reports, documentation submitted and approved to inspect farm and test birds, personnel involved, including all relevant dates and actions taken / warrants etc.
Who / what entity reported the initial illness to MPI and any subsequent communications with that individual or farm.
All initial correspondence with farm involved or contemporaneous file notes of calls.
The total number of birds affected and culled as a result of this outbreak, including details about the culling process and any and all approval processes gone through to cull including disposal. Please provide all documentation outlining teams responsible / outsourcing culling and if external name of the company.
If an external company was culling the flock please provide the current arrangement with MPI - is there an existing contract in place and if so when was it agreed to?
Information on any additional farms or facilities that have been placed under surveillance or restrictions due to proximity to the outbreak, including any correspondence with these farms and / or any other "tip-offs" where the flu might occur.
An outline of testing procedures followed by MPI upon notification of sick birds, including timelines for testing and results reporting and companies involved.
Information on any laboratory testing protocols used to confirm H7N6 in the affected flock.
Any correspondence or communication with global organizations regarding this outbreak.
Information on whether MPI has engaged in discussions with U.S. counterparts regarding their role in the release of avian influenza viruses which they regularly do and why they continue to manipulate viruses despite concerns for human and animal welfare.
Clarification on food safety concerns regarding poultry and egg products in light of this outbreak.
Information on any financial incentives to the farmer to cull the flock - how much is the farmer paid when his flock is culled and / or does he also have an insurance claim.
What recourse is available to the farmer to challenge, complete his own testing given trust in government institutions is out the window and every single agency engages in provable lies.
Copies of all communications with any and all media including before the outbreak. I note the media have really been pushing the narrative for sometime that an outbreak was "imminent" and just like that an outbreak happens.
Information regarding reporting requirements for farmers when culling flocks due to avian influenza, including any protocols that must be followed post-culling.

Yours faithfully,
Chris

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________________________________

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the office.

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe Chris,

 

On behalf of Michelle Morehu, Director Government Services, please find
attached an update to your Official Information Act 1982 request.

 

Kâ mihi,

 

Ashley Honeywell

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs

Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatû Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington
6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [1][email address] |
Web: [2]www.mpi.govt.nz

 

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

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the
addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be
legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it
contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call
the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase
the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the
office.

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe Chris,

 

Thank you for your request made on 6 December 2024 via fyi.org.nz,
requesting information relating to H7N6 Bird Flu - Timeline of Events,
Protocols and Media Narrative. Your request has been considered under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).

 

On 21 January 2025 the Ministry for Primary Industries advised we would
provide a decision on your request by 24 February 2025. Pursuant to
section 15(1) of the Act, I can advise that we will provide you with
information you have requested and are currently preparing that
information for release. We will provide it to you as soon as it is ready.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result this delay.

 

Please note that some information in the response is likely to be
withheld/declined pursuant to the following sections of the OIA:

·         Section 9(2)(b)(ii) – to protect information where the making
available of the   information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice
the commercial position of the person who is the subject of the
information.

·         Section 9(2)(ba)(i) – to protect information which is subject to
an obligation of confidence, where the making available of the information
would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information and it is
in the public interest that such information should continue to be
supplied.

o Section 18(e) - that the document alleged to contain the information
requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate
it, cannot be found.
o Section 18(f) - that the information requested cannot be made
available without substantial collation or research.

 

Should you have any concerns with this response, I would encourage you to
raise these with the Ministry for Primary Industries at
[1][email address].

 

Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns
with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143 or at
[2][email address].

 

Kā mihi,

 

Ashley Honeywell

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs

Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatū Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington
6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [3][email address] |
Web: [4]www.mpi.govt.nz

 

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

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the
addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be
legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it
contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call
the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase
the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the
office.

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe Chris,

 

On behalf of Andrew Spelman, Commissioner Biosecurity, Intelligence
Systems & Response, please find attached a response to your Official
Information Act 1982 request.

 

Kâ mihi,

 

Ashley Honeywell

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs

Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatû Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington
6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [1][email address] |
Web: [2]www.mpi.govt.nz

 

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

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the
addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be
legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it
contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call
the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase
the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the
office.

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections