16 April 2026
Erika Whittome
[FYI request #34110 email]
Dear Erika
Official Information Act Request
Our ref: OIA 2026-0058
I refer to your Official Information 1982 (OIA) request dated 17 March 2026:
“I refer to the advice "COVID-19 Workforce Vaccinations Guidance" on your website
dated 2 March 2021:It says :
" On 3 February 2021, Medsafe the medicines safety authority approved the first
Covid-19 vaccine for use in New Zealand. It has been robustly assessed to ensure it
meets international standards and local requirements for quality and safety."
1. Please share the information on this medicine approval which the Public Service
Commission received that said the medine was approved.
2. Please share the assessment which the Public Service Commission relied on to
say that the medicine was robustly assessed for quality and safety. The advice
lauds vaccination and suggests making it a condition of employment
agreements, for example:
a. "Expect: set an expectation that al staff should be vaccinated
b. Communicate an expectation that al staff who are able to be vaccinated wil
be vaccinated."
c. "For at-risk workforces, consider introducing a requirement for new
employees to be vaccinated into employment agreements by agreement
with any relevant unions."
d. "Vaccines should be administered in the workplace where possible"
3. Please share the analysis on the justified limitations on the NZ Bil of Rights 1990
which discusses the right to refuse medical treatment. I am requesting al the
information (emails, correspondence, policy documents, meeting minutes etc)
dated up to 2 March 2021 on the complete analysis of this demonstrably justified
limitation on the Bil of Rights 1990.”
Level 10, Te Iho | 1 Lambton Quay | PO Box 329
Wellington 6140 | New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 6600
The OIA requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20
working days after the day that we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be
possible to meet that time limit and we are, therefore, writing to notify you of an
extension of the time to make our decision, to
30 April 2026.
This extension is necessary because consultations needed to make a decision on your
request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original
time limit.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please
feel free to contact Ministerial and Executive Services team at:
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Nicky Dirks
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
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