22 September 2025
Erika Whittome
[FYI request #32167 email]
Ref: OIA-2025/26-0159
Tēnā koe Erika
Official Information Act request for an unredacted version of a 2021 COVID-19 briefing
about the domestic use of COVID-19 vaccination certificates Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request of 30 August 2025. Your
request was transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) on
2 September 2025. You requested:
“The office of prime minister and cabinet released this briefing https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-
01/Initial-advice-on-the-domestic-use-of-COVID-19-Vaccination-
certificates.pdf__;!!Asq5-
8xVch3Reg!pncTiSwhS5lDhbi loCa9Cute4TzGi1qNQm6Vcz4bD4h6axmIcQYv
LU_4uBMRqx_0eNr6Bx5aK7Hn5-opWauxGyVevH1fW-oBkM84d1ZRhOS$
It's full of legal advice that is hidden. I request this legal advice to be released
given the wide use of vaccine passports, the wide purview of the vaccine
passport usage in 2021/2022 and also the fact that the Ombudsman's office
recognises what kinds of legal advice should be released under the Official
information act here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/sites/defa
ult/files/2022-02/Legal*20professional*20privilege*20-
*20A*20guide*20to*20section*209*282*29*28h*29*20of*20the*20OIA*20and*
20section*207*282*29*28g*29*20of*20the*20LGOIMA.pdf__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJS
UlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJQ!!Asq5-
8xVch3Reg!pncTiSwhS5lDhbi loCa9Cute4TzGi1qNQm6Vcz4bD4h6axmIcQYv
LU_4uBMRqx_0eNr6Bx5aK7Hn5-opWauxGyVevH1fW-oBkM84bMeenaC$
Public interest such as the royal covid enquiry is high.
Please provide all the unredacted legal advice in this briefing to your office
DPMC: DPMC-2021/22-324 "Joint Briefing INITIAL ADVICE ON THE
DOMESTIC USE OFCOVID-19 VACCINATION CERTIFICATES".”
As noted in your request, the joint DPMC and Ministry of Health briefing dated 17 September
2021 “
Initial Advice on The Domestic use of COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates” is publicly
available on DPMC’s website at:
www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-01/Initial-advice-
on-the-domestic-use-of-COVID-19-Vaccination-certificates.pdf. Information has been withheld from the published briefing to protect legal privilege as well as
a small amount of information withheld to protect privacy and to maintain the effective
conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinion. In the light of your
request, we have reassessed the information that was withheld to maintain legal privilege.
The information that was withheld at the time the paper was originally published continues to
be withheld under section 9(2)(h), as the legal privilege remains in place.
5108798
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz
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.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
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
5108798
2
