133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
3 April 2025
Erika Whittome
By email: [FYI request #30187 email]
Ref:
H2025061937
Tēnā koe Erika
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 23 February 2025 for information regarding the
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021. You requested:
"Would you please share the following information on the implementation and promulgation
of this order being revoked in September and the rest or 2022 eg: Any Press Releases: Any Ministerial advice on this revocation especially to DHBs, Health NZ, The Health and
Disability Commissioner, Privacy Commission, MBIE, Worksafe, MoJ etc Any Ministerial briefings Sept until the end of 2022"
Information within scope of your request is itemised in Appendix 1 of this letter and copies of the
documents are enclosed. The table in Appendix 1 outlines the grounds under which I have
decided to withhold information. Where information is withheld under section 9 of the Act, I have
considered the countervailing public interest in release in making this decision and consider that
it does not outweigh the need to withhold at this time.
The Ministry also has information on revoked public health response regulations and orders for
previous COVID-19 measures, please refer to the following link:
www.health.govt.nz/strategies-
initiatives/programmes-and-initiatives/covid-19/legislation-and-orders/revoked-covid-19-
regulations-and-orders#revocation
Turning to your request for Ministerial briefings, the Ministry routinely publishes lists and copies
of advice provided to Ministers on its website:
www.health.govt.nz/information-releases/lists-of-
advice-provided-to-ministers
I trust this information fulfils your request. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with
us, including this decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests
Nāku noa, nā
Jane Chambers
Group Manager, Public Health Policy and Regulation Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: List of documents for release
#
Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
5 September
Cabinet paper - Future of
The information is publicly available, as
2022
the COVID-19 Protection
such this is refused under section 18(d) of
Framework and Moving to the Act:
the New Approach
www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2022-
12/SWC-22-SUB-0159-future-c19-
protection-framework.pdf
2
8 September
HR20221395 - Required
The information is publicly available, as
2022
order changed to support
such this is refused under section 18(d) of
the shift to a new
the Act:
approach for managing
www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2022-
COVID-19
11/20221395_briefing.pdf
3
12 September
HR20221438 - Final
Some information is withheld under
2022
orders for signing to give
section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the
effect to Cabinets new
privacy of the natural persons
approach to managing
COVID-19
Page 3 of 3
Memorandum
Final orders for signing to give effect to Cabinet’s new approach to manage
COVID-19
Date due to MO: 12 September 2022
Action required by:
12 September 2022
Security level:
IN CONFIDENCE
Health Report number: 20221438
To:
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for COVID-19 Response
Act 1982
Contact for telephone discussion
Name
Position
Telephone
Information
Stephen Glover
Group Manager, COVID-19 Policy
s 9(2)(a)
Dr Diana Sarfati
Director-General of Health
s 9(2)(a)
Minister’s office to complete:
☐ Approved
☐ Decline
☐ Noted
☐ Needs change
☐ Seen
☐ Overtaken by events
Released under the Official
☐ See Minister’s Notes
☐ Withdrawn
Comment:
Briefing 20221438
Purpose of report
1.
This report recommends you approve the attached amendment and revocation orders,
made under section 11 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.
2.
This report discloses all relevant information and implications.
Summary
3.
On 12 September 2022, Cabinet agreed to shift from the COVID-19 Protection Framework
(CPF) to a new approach for managing COVID-19.
4.
You have agreed to make changes to a suite of COVID-19 orders made under the COVID-
19 Public Health Response Act 2020 to reflect Cabinet’s decisions on a new approach to
manage COVID-19 and the current outbreak risk context [HR 20221395 refers]. These
changes include amendments to the:
Act 1982
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order 2021 to remove post-arrival
testing, vaccination requirements and the requirement not to show symptoms or be
under a public health direction in another country
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Self-isolation Requirements and Permitted Work)
Order 2022 (SRPW) to remove the 7-day household contact isolation requirement.
5.
In addition, the orders below have become redundant, and you have agreed to their
Information
revocation:
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Maritime Border) Order 2021
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine) Order 2020
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Testing for COVID-19) Order 2022
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021.
6.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is providing you with separate advice about a
new mask order and the revocation of the COVID-19 Protection Framework.
7.
Under section 11 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020, your approval of the
attached Amendment and Revocation Orders is required to give legal effect to the new
settings.
8.
Once signed, the new settings will take effect 11:59 pm on 12 September to follow the
announcement of the new approach to managing COVID-19. The revocation of the
vaccination order would come into force at 11:59pm on 26 September, to allow time for
health sector employers to update their employment p
Released under the Official olicies in light of this change.
Recommendations
It is recommended that you:
1. note
that on 12 September 2022, Cabinet agreed to shift from the
Noted
COVID-19 Protection Framework (CPF) to a new approach for
managing COVID-19
Briefing 20221438
2. note
that you have agreed to make changes to a suite of COVID-19
Noted
orders made under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act
2020 to reflect Cabinet’s decisions on a new approach to manage
COVID-19 [HR 20221395 refers]
3. sign
the attached COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border)
Yes/No
Amendment Order (No 6) 2022 which will remove all substantial
requirements for travellers and airlines except for those relating to
the provision of information for contact tracing purposes and the
completion of the New Zealand Traveller Declaration
4. sign
the attached COVID-19 Public Health Response (Self-isolation
Yes/No
Requirements) Amendment Order (No 6) 2022 which removes the
requirement for household contacts of COVID-19 cases to isolate
Act 1982
5. sign
the attached COVID-19 Public Health Response (Revocations)
Yes/No
Order 2022 which will revoke the following four Orders:
• COVID-19 Public Health Response (Maritime Border) Order
(No 2) 2020
• COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and
Quarantine) Order 2020
Information
• COVID-19 Public Health Response (Testing for COVID-19)
Order 2022
• COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order
2021.
Dr Diana Sarfati
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Hauora
Minister for COVID-19 Response
Director-General of Health
Date: 12 September 2022
Released under the Official
Date:
Briefing 20221438
Document Outline
