5/03/2025
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 bul etins – 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’l 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
We conducted an email sweep for information presented to the Secretary for Education between
25 October 2021 and 1 November 2021, being the period between the mentioned Bulletin and
Update.
Five email chains have been identified in scope of your request, which I am partially releasing as
Appendix A.
Please note that the first email in Document 5 is out of scope of your request, but I am providing it
as it provides additional context that may be of interest to you. All other information in the emails
that is out of scope of your request has been redacted.
I am withholding private information of non-Ministry staff under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect
the privacy of natural persons. I am also withholding one sentence from non-Ministry staff under
section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act, to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and
frank expression of opinions by or to members of an organisation or officers and employees of any
public service agency or organisation in the course of their duty.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in releasing the
information withheld. I do not consider the public interest considerations favouring the release of
this information are sufficient to outweigh the need to withhold it at this time.
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your name and
contact details will be removed.
Thank you again for your email. You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to review my decision
on your request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do this by writing to
[email address] or to Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Emma Drysdale
Team Manager, Office and Parliamentary Information
Government, Executive and Ministerial Services
OIA: 1341738
