11/02/2025
Erika Whittome
[FYI request #29557 email]
Tēnā koe Erika
OIA: 1341738 – 1 November 2021 Update
Thank you for your email of 15 December 2024 via the FYI website to the Ministry of Education
(the Ministry) requesting the following information:
I refer to an update from the Ministry of Education dated 1 November 2021 sent to school
leaders which says:
"Thank you for all feedback sent through about last week’s bulletins – it was good to
hear that the information about responding to employment matters was clear.
There are two key priorities for guidance this week: a table of information that
outlines the nuances of who needs a vaccination and who doesn’t, and a definition
for medical exemptions and what to do with staff who have one. The Ministry of
Health is publishing guidance on exemptions shortly, and we’ll then prepare our own
and have it ready for you later this week.
There has been quite a lot of media coverage about "bogus medical exemptions". I
strongly advise not to accept any medical exemptions until information from both the
Ministry of Health and us is published.
....
Nāku iti noa, nā,
Iona"
Would you kindly share all the correspondence, memos, emails, minutes, guidance
discussions presented to Iona Holsted to "strongly advise not to accept any medical
exemptions..." on 1 November 2021?
Thank you also for your email of 20 December 2024 amending your request to the following:
The text is “I strongly advise not to accept any medical exemptions until information from
both the Ministry of Health and us is published.”
Would you kindly share the requested information that gave rise to this statement on 1 Nov
2021.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
8 Gilmer Terrace, Levels Ground floor, 1, 2, and 6-14, Wellington
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
The Ministry needs to extend the timeframe for responding to your request, pursuant to section
15A(1)(b) of the Act, as consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a
proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. You can now expect to
receive a response to your request on or before 11 March 2025, which is an extension of 20
working days.
You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate our decision to extend the timeframe for
responding to this request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do this by writing to
[email address] or Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Lucy Jordan
Senior Advisor, Official and Parliamentary Information
Government, Executive and Ministerial Services
