Attention Ministry of Social Development,

I refer to MSD’s Official Information Act response dated 4 February 2025, available here:
https://msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-...

Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information.

For the purposes of this request, the term “personnel” includes both MSD employees and non-employee workers, including contractors, consultants, fixed-term staff, and agency placements. When not explicitly limited to “employees”, the term “personnel” is implied and refers to this broader group.

1- How many non-employee personnel (e.g. contractors, consultants, fixed-term or temp agency staff) were subject to COVID-19 vaccine mandates or termination notices by MSD? Were those termination notices rescinded?

2- On what date(s) were the termination notices rescinded for affected personnel? By what means were those terminations rescinded (e.g. email, letter, verbal communication, etc)?

3. How many affected personnel remained engaged at MSD, including those whose termination notices were rescinded before their engagement ended?

4. How many affected personnel left MSD after receiving a termination notice (regardless of whether they later reached settlement or reinstatement)?

5. How many of the affected personnel were working in each operational area or departmental function (e.g. case management, IT, finance, HR, etc)? Please provide this disaggregated by job title or function to the extent reasonably practicable.

6. How many of the affected personnel were offered alternative positions, roles, or accommodations (e.g. remote work, redeployment, or other adjustments) as an alternative to termination? Please indicate whether such offers were made before or after termination notices were issued.

7. What was the total amount paid out by MSD to resolve matters with these affected personnel, disaggregated (as far as reasonably practicable) into categories, including:
* back-pay
* settlements
* ex gratia payments
* sick leave or annual leave entitlements paid out
* any other categories of compensation or financial redress

Please also provide any contextual information necessary to interpret the figures (e.g. timeframes of payments, possible overlap between categories, or explanatory notes on classification methods used).

8. On what date did MSD formally decide to rescind the termination notices? Please provide a timeline of internal decisions or communications that led to this outcome.

9. Was legal advice sought by MSD before rescinding the terminations? If so, on what date was that advice received, and from whom (e.g. Crown Law, external counsel)?

10. Were any external parties (e.g. Ministers, the Public Service Commission, unions, or legal representatives) involved in discussions leading to the rescindments? If so, please identify them and the nature of their involvement.

11. Did MSD issue any internal guidance or policy outlining the process for implementing vaccine mandate-related terminations? If so, please provide a copy of that policy.

12. Has MSD updated or revised its personnel policies since the termination notices were rescinded? If so, please provide the current policy and indicate the date changes were made.

13. Were any MSD staff (e.g. HR, legal, or executive personnel) formally held accountable or subject to any consequences in any relation to the decisions that led to the terminations and their subsequent reversal?
If so, please specify the nature of any:
* performance reviews
* disciplinary action
* internal investigations
* role changes or demotions
* resignations (voluntary or requested)
* other forms of internal accountability or corrective response

Thank you,
ASE