Samson response.pdf

13 November 2025

Sarah Samson
[FYI request #32069 email]

Ref: OIA-2025/26-0128
Tēnā koe Sarah,

Official Information Act request relating to Communications regarding Royal
Commission of Inquiry – COVID Phase 2

Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 20 August
2025. You requested:

“all communication between any members of the Royal Commission of Inquiry - COVID
Phase 2 and any members of DPMC. This includes, but is not limited to, any emails,
briefings, text of phone calls, text messages (on any platform) or any other
information.”

We have interpreted your request as seeking all communications between DPMC and one or
more of the members for Phase 2 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (COVID-19 Lessons).
The first communications we have identified as relating to Phase 2 date from 7 November
2024.Therefore, the timeframe for information relevant to your request has been interpreted
as from that date until 20 August 2025.

Under section 15A of the Act, the time frames for responding were extended by 42 working
days, until 17 November 2025 because of the consultations that were needed before a
decision could be made on your request. Following that extension, I am now in a position to
respond.

Information being released
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the communications identified as in scope of
your request, subject to information being withheld as noted. The sections of the Act under
which information has been withheld are:

•  6(c), to protect the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation,
and detection of offences, and the right to a fair trial
•  9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals
•  9(2)(ba)(i), to protect the supply of similar information in the future.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of
the Act. No public interest has been identified that would be sufficient to outweigh the
reasons for withholding that information.

Date
Email subject line
Decision
22 January 2025
Phase 2 Procedural Minute (including
Release email, some information
Attachment)
withheld under s9(2)(a).

Attachment refused under s18(d)
[refer to ‘Information publicly
available’ below].

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Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011

  64 4 817 9698  www.dpmc.govt.nz

Date
Email subject line
Decision
24 January 2025
Production Orders under s 20 of the
Release email, some information
Inquiries Act 2013 (including Attachment)
withheld under s9(2)(a).

Release attachment.
7 February 2025
DPMC – Request to clarify scope of
Release, some information
Production Order
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
18 February 2025
DPMC – Request to clarify scope of
Release, some information
Production Order
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
19 February 2025
DPMC – Request to clarify scope of
Release, some information
Production Order
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
21 February 2025
DPMC – Request to clarify scope of
Release, some information
Production Order
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
22 February 2025
DPMC - Request to clarify scope of
Release, some information
Production Order - follow up email
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
26 February 2025
DPMC - Request to clarify scope of
Release, some information
Production Order - follow up email
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
28 February 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry: DPMC and [remainder
Withhold in full under s6(c).
of subject withheld under s6(c)]
3 March 2025
RCOI into COVID-19 Lessons Learned –
Release email, some information
transferring evidence to the Inquiry
withheld under s9(2)(a).
(including Attachment)

Release attachment.
4 March 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry: DPMC and [remainder
Withhold in full under s6(c).
of subject withheld under s6(c)]
7 March 2025
DPMC secure file share (including
Release email, some information
Attachment)
withheld under s9(2)(a),
s9(2)(ba)(i).

Release attachment.
7 March 2025
The Department of the Prime Minister and
Release email, some information
Cabinet’s response to the Inquiry’s
withheld under s9(2)(a),
production order of 14 January 2025
s9(2)(ba)(i).

Release attachment, some
information withheld under s6(c).
11 March 2025
Meeting with DPMC on 12 March
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c).
19 March 2025
DPMC: Follow-up from meeting with the
Release, some information
RCOI on 12 March
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
24 March 2025
RCOI C-19: DPMC and [part of subject
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c)], section 15 orders
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
25 March 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
25 March 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
25 March 2025
Cancelling meetings with DPMC now that
Release, some information
you are meeting regularly with Victoria
withheld under s9(2)(a).
Casey for the Crown departments
27 March 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
27 March 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release email, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).

Attachment withheld under s6(c).
28 March 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c).
28 March 2025
DPMC [remainder of subject withheld
Release, some information
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Date
Email subject line
Decision
under s6(c)]
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
7 April 2025
Inquiry
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
10 April 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release email, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).

Attachment withheld under s6(c).
10 April 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
14 April 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)] – next
Release email, some information
steps
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).

Attachment withheld under s6(c).
16 April 2025
RCOI – undertakings (FYI)
Release email, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).

Attachment withheld under s6(c).
16 April 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release email, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).

Two attachments withheld under
s6(c).

One attachment refused under
s18(d) [refer to ‘Information publicly
available’ below].
16 April 2025
DPMC response to the Inquiry’s letter of 2  Release email, some information
April 2025
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a),
s9(2)(ba)(i).

Release attachment, some
information withheld under s6(c).
16 April 2025
DPMC secure file share
Release, some information
withheld under s9(2)(a),
s9(2)(ba)(i).
16 April 2025
DPMC response to the Inquiry’s letter of 2  Release, some information
April 2025
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a),
s9(2)(ba)(i).
22 April 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
28 April 2025
COVID19 Inquiry [remainder of subject
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c)]
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
30 April 2025
Call - now or after 3 suit?
Release, some information
withheld under s9(2)(a).
1 May 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release email, some information
withheld under s6(c).

Attachment withheld under s6(c).
5 May 2025
DPMC [remainder of subject withheld
Release, some information
under s6(c)]
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
7 May 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c).
8 May 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
9 May 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release email, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).

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Date
Email subject line
Decision
Attachment withheld under s6(c)
9 May 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c).
27 June 2025
[Subject withheld under s6(c)]
Release, some information
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a).
1 August 2025
DPMC secure file share
Release, some information
withheld under s9(2)(a),
s9(2)(ba)(i).
4 August 2025
Corrected version – replacement of
Release, some information
received copy with corrected paper
withheld under s6(c), s9(2)(a),
s9(2)(ba)(i).

Information publicly available
The following information is also covered by your request and is publicly available on the
indicated websites:

Date
Document description
Website address
6 September 2019
Dotcom v Attorney-General [2019]
https://www.justice.govt.nz/jdo_docume
NZCA 412
nts/workspace___SpacesStore_9f079fd
6_03bd_4d13_9ce5_1af75e452167.pdf
7 November 2024
COVID-19 Inquiry Pānui: Issue 14
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/news/covid-19-inquiry-panui-
issue-14
18 December 2024
Phase Two: Minute 1
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/assets/Uploads/18122024-
Phase-Two-Minute-1-FINAL.pdf
3 February 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry Pānui: Issue 16
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/news/covid-19-inquiry-panui-
issue-16
11 March 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry Pānui: Issue 17
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/news/covid-19-inquiry-panui-
issue-17
8 April 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry Pānui: Issue 18
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/news/covid-19-inquiry-panui-
issue-18
16 May 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry Pānui: Issue 19
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/news/covid-19-inquiry-panui-
issue-19
2 July 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry Pānui: Issue 20
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/news/covid-19-inquiry-panui-
issue-20
6 August 2025
COVID-19 Inquiry Pānui: Issue 21
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
ssion.nz/news/covid-19-inquiry-panui-
issue-21
13 August 2025
An update on the Inquiry public
https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommi
hearings
ssion.nz/news/public-hearing-for-
decision-makers-will-no-longer-proceed-
inquiry-chair

Accordingly, I have refused your request insofar as it relates to these materials under section
18(d) of the Act – the information requested is publicly available.

You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
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This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typically, information is released monthly, or as
otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact details will be
removed for publication.

Nāku noa, nā

Alan Cassidy
Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate and Chief People Officer
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