Dear Erika,

 

I refer to your request of 18 March 2026, for official information under
the Official Information Act 1982.

 

The University will respond to your request as soon as reasonably
practicable, and within the Official Information Act’s maximum time limit
of 20 working days from the date of your request (17 April 2026) unless
that time limit is extended under the Act.

Yours sincerely,

Adam

 

[1]signature_1301701140

Adam Miller

Kaiâwhina Ture | Legal Assistant

Te tari o te Ihorangi | Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

[2]Image

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #34148 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 5:06 PM
To: Legal <[University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Terminated staff due to
vaccination status at UoA in 2022 onwards
 
Dear University of Auckland,

For the purposes of this request, the term “personnel” includes both UoA
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. In 2022 how many staff were terminated for failure to comply with the 
covid-19 vaccination policy here
[3]https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...

2. How many affected personnel left UoA before receiving a termination
notice during the introduction of the vaccination policy?

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

4. 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.

5. What was the total amount paid out by UoA to resolve matters with these
affected personnel, disaggregated (as far as reasonably practicable) into
categories, including:
* back-pay
* redundancy payments
* 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).

6. Were any external parties (e.g. Ministers, the Public Service
Commission, Tertiary Commission , unions, or legal representatives)
involved in the development of the vaccination policy leading to the
terminations If so, please identify them and the nature of their
involvement.

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

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34148 email]

Is [University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[4]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
3. https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...
4. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Dear Erika,

I refer to your request of 18 March 2026. As consultations necessary to
make a decision on your request are such that a response cannot reasonably
be given within the original time limit, the University has extended the
time limit for your request by 10 working days under section 15A(1)(b) of
the OIA.
The new maximum time limit for the University’s response is 2 May 2026; we
will respond to your request as soon as reasonably practicable.
You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this extension.
Yours sincerely,

Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Adam Miller <[email address]> on behalf of Legal
<[University of Auckland request email]>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2026 10:33 AM
To: Erika Whittome <[FOI #34148 email]>
Cc: Legal <[University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: 2026-OIA-0038-Whittome
 

Dear Erika,

 

I refer to your request of 18 March 2026, for official information under
the Official Information Act 1982.

 

The University will respond to your request as soon as reasonably
practicable, and within the Official Information Act’s maximum time limit
of 20 working days from the date of your request (17 April 2026) unless
that time limit is extended under the Act.

Yours sincerely,

Adam

 

[1]signature_1301701140

Adam Miller

Kaiāwhina Ture | Legal Assistant

Te tari o te Ihorangi | Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

[2]Image

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #34148 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 5:06 PM
To: Legal <[University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Terminated staff due to
vaccination status at UoA in 2022 onwards
 
Dear University of Auckland,

For the purposes of this request, the term “personnel” includes both UoA
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. In 2022 how many staff were terminated for failure to comply with the 
covid-19 vaccination policy here
[3]https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...

2. How many affected personnel left UoA before receiving a termination
notice during the introduction of the vaccination policy?

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

4. 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.

5. What was the total amount paid out by UoA to resolve matters with these
affected personnel, disaggregated (as far as reasonably practicable) into
categories, including:
* back-pay
* redundancy payments
* 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).

6. Were any external parties (e.g. Ministers, the Public Service
Commission, Tertiary Commission , unions, or legal representatives)
involved in the development of the vaccination policy leading to the
terminations If so, please identify them and the nature of their
involvement.

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

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34148 email]

Is [University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[4]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
3. https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...
4. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Dear Erika,

 

I refer to your request of 18 March 2026. The University's response
follows.

"For the purposes of this request, the term “personnel” includes both UoA
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."

This response is in respect of University employees ("staff"), which
includes full-time, fixed term, and casual staff. The University cannot
terminate the employment of its contractors' employees, and we do not hold
the requested information about employment matters between contractors and
their employees. This constitutes a partial refusal of your request under
18(g) of the OIA.

"1. In 2022 how many staff were terminated for failure to comply with the 
covid-19 vaccination policy here
[1]https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...

None.

"2. How many affected personnel left UoA before receiving a termination
notice during the introduction of the vaccination policy?"

I believe you are asking how many University staff resigned where the
University had decided to terminate their employment for failure to comply
with our early 2022 Covid-19 vaccination policy, but prior to receiving a
"termination notice". The answer to this question is "None". 

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

Not applicable - as stated in our responses to questions 1 and 2, no staff
were terminated or resigned prior to receiving notice of termination under
the University's early 2022 Covid-19 vaccination policy, so there were no
affected staff.

"4. 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."

Not applicable - as stated in our responses to questions 1 and 2, no staff
were terminated or resigned prior to receiving notice of termination under
the University's early 2022 Covid-19 vaccination policy, so there were no
affected staff.

"5. What was the total amount paid out by UoA to resolve matters with
these affected personnel, disaggregated (as far as reasonably practicable)
into categories, including:
* back-pay
* redundancy payments
* 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)."

Not applicable - as stated in our responses to questions 1 and 2, no staff
were terminated or resigned prior to receiving notice of termination under
the University's early 2022 Covid-19 vaccination policy, so there were no
affected staff.

6. Were any external parties (e.g. Ministers, the Public Service
Commission, Tertiary Commission , unions, or legal representatives)
involved in the development of the vaccination policy leading to the
terminations If so, please identify them and the nature of their
involvement.

Not applicable - as stated in our response above, the University's early
2022 Covid-19 vaccination policy did not lead to any terminations of
staff.

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

No, there were no terminations under the University's early 2022 Covid-19
vaccination policy, and no internal guidance or policy issued for
implementing terminations under that policy specifically. The University's
general disciplinary procedures are publicly available on our website: see
[2]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
[3]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...

 

You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with the University's response.

 

Yours sincerely,

Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Erika Whittome <[4][FOI #34148 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 5:06 PM
To: Legal <[5][University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Terminated staff due to
vaccination status at UoA in 2022 onwards

 

Dear University of Auckland,

For the purposes of this request, the term “personnel” includes both UoA
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. In 2022 how many staff were terminated for failure to comply with the 
covid-19 vaccination policy here
[6]https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...

2. How many affected personnel left UoA before receiving a termination
notice during the introduction of the vaccination policy?

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

4. 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.

5. What was the total amount paid out by UoA to resolve matters with these
affected personnel, disaggregated (as far as reasonably practicable) into
categories, including:
* back-pay
* redundancy payments
* 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).

6. Were any external parties (e.g. Ministers, the Public Service
Commission, Tertiary Commission , unions, or legal representatives)
involved in the development of the vaccination policy leading to the
terminations If so, please identify them and the nature of their
involvement.

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

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #34148 email]

Is [8][University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[9]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...
2. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
3. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
4. mailto:[FOI #34148 email]
5. mailto:[University of Auckland request email]
6. https://web.archive.org/web/202112021824...
7. mailto:[FOI #34148 email]
8. mailto:[University of Auckland request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers