Vaccine Mandate Relief Support Scheme
Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Ministry of Education
Currently waiting for a response from Ministry of Education, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: Erika Whittome
Dear Ministry of Education,
The Covid19 Update dated 17 February 2022 says:
"Schools who had to work though employment processes with staff who have not met the vaccine mandate requirements may be eligible for additional funding to fund part of the costs incurred.
The costs must relate to relief teachers that have been hired during paid notice periods directly related to staff members not meeting the vaccination mandate.
...
Applying for the scheme
To apply for this funding, please go to Forms for resourcing to download an application form. Applications must be received by Thursday 14 April.
Please note, as applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis eligibility cannot be confirmed prior to an application being submitted.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to this, please contact our Resourcing Team for further assistance at resourcing at (@) education.govt.nz."
Kindly share:
1. How much additional funding was allocated due to vaccine mandates, ie the total cost?
2. how many schools sent enquiries.
3. how many applications were received.
4. how many applications were accepted.
5. how many applications were rejected.
6. The total number of education staff mandated out of their jobs that these applications covered.
Yours faithfully,
Erika Whittome
From: Enquiries National
Ministry of Education
Kia ora Erika
Thank you for the information request below. The Ministry will consider
and respond to your request in accordance with the Official Information
Act 1982 the Act).
Under section 15(1) of the Act, we are required to make and inform you of
our decision on your request as soon as reasonably practicable and in any
case not later than 20 working days after the day on which your request is
received. You can therefore expect to receive our decision on your request
on or before 15 August 2025. If more than 20 working days are needed due
to the potential workload and/or consultations involved in answering your
request, we will notify you accordingly.
The Ministry may publicly release on our website the response to your
request five days after you have received it. Any personal information
will be removed.
In the interim, if you have any questions about your request, please email
[1][email address]
Ngā mihi
Enquiries National Team | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of
Education | TW
[2]education.govt.nz
We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent
outcomes
He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai
ōna huanga
[3]Te TD huhu o te MD tauranga
-----Original Message-----
From: Erika Whittome <[4][FOI #31652 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 20 July 2025 8:04 am
To: Enquiries National <[5][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Vaccine Mandate Relief Support
Scheme
[You don't often get email from
[6][FOI #31652 email]. Learn why this is
important at [7]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear Ministry of Education,
The Covid19 Update dated 17 February 2022 says:
"Schools who had to work though employment processes with staff who have
not met the vaccine mandate requirements may be eligible for additional
funding to fund part of the costs incurred.
The costs must relate to relief teachers that have been hired during paid
notice periods directly related to staff members not meeting the
vaccination mandate.
...
Applying for the scheme
To apply for this funding, please go to Forms for resourcing to download
an application form. Applications must be received by Thursday 14 April.
Please note, as applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis
eligibility cannot be confirmed prior to an application being submitted.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to this, please contact our
Resourcing Team for further assistance at resourcing at (@)
education.govt.nz."
Kindly share:
1. How much additional funding was allocated due to vaccine mandates, ie
the total cost?
2. how many schools sent enquiries.
3. how many applications were received.
4. how many applications were accepted.
5. how many applications were rejected.
6. The total number of education staff mandated out of their jobs that
these applications covered.
Yours faithfully,
Erika Whittome
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From: Enquiries National
Ministry of Education
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Tçnâ koe Erika
Thank you for your email of 20 July 2025 to the Ministry of Education (the
Ministry) requesting the following information:
Vaccine Mandate Relief Support Scheme.
Kindly share:
1. How much additional funding was allocated due to vaccine mandates, ie
the total cost?
2. how many schools sent enquiries.
3. how many applications were received.
4. how many applications were accepted.
5. how many applications were rejected.
6. The total number of education staff mandated out of their jobs that
these applications covered.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act).
We would be grateful if you could provide further detail around the nature
of the information you are looking for, so that we might be able to
determine the information that is most meaningful to you.
Could you please confirm the information requested at part 1 of your
request, pertains only to funding for the Vaccine Mandate Relief Support
Scheme referenced in your request?
Could you also please confirm that parts 2 – 5 of your request pertain
only to enquiries or applications relating to the Vaccine Mandate Relief
Support Scheme, specifically?
Could you also please confirm that education staff referenced in part 6 of
your request is limited to the affected school staff only and excludes for
example, Ministry of Education staff?
We look forward to hearing from you by COB 4 August 2025. Once we have
your clarification, we will commence work on your request.
Please note that in line with Section 15 (1AA) of the Act, if a request is
amended or clarified after the date on which it is received, the Ministry
may treat the amended or clarified request as a new request that replaces
the original request.
Nâku noa, nâ
Official and Parliamentary Information | Te Tâhuhu o te Mâtauranga |
Ministry of Education | KJ
8 Gilmer Terrace, Wellington
[1]education.govt.nz
He mea târai e mâtou te mâtauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai
ôna huanga
We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent
outcomes
[2][IMG]
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DISCLAIMER:
This email and any attachments may contain information that is
confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this
email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in
error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the
email and attachments. The Ministry of Education accepts no
responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after
transmission from the Ministry.
References
Visible links
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2. http://www.education.govt.nz/
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From: Enquiries National
Ministry of Education
[IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL]
Tēnā koe Erika
We write further regarding your OIA request received 20 July 2025 and our
request for clarification sent to you on 28 July 2025 (attached).
Could you please provide the requested clarification so we can proceed
with your request.
If we do not hear from you by 11 August 2025, we may refuse your request
under section 18(f) of the Act as the information requested cannot be made
available without substantial collation or research.
Please note that in line with Section 15 (1AA) of the Act, if a request is
amended or clarified after the date on which it is received, the Ministry
may treat the amended or clarified request as a new request that replaces
the original request.
Nāku noa, nā,
Official and Parliamentary Information | Ministry of Education | CM
[1]education.govt.nz
He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai
ōna huanga
We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent
outcomes
[2]Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER:
This email and any attachments may contain information that is
confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this
email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in
error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the
email and attachments. The Ministry of Education accepts no
responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after
transmission from the Ministry.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.education.govt.nz/
2. https://www.education.govt.nz/
hide quoted sections
From: Erika Whittome
Dear Enquiries National,
As per the heading, my request is about the "Vaccine Mandate Relief Support Scheme."
This request for information is just about NZ schools, not the ministry of Ed staff.
Yours sincerely,
Erika Whittome
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