5 May 2026
REF: OIA 88457
Erika Whittome
[FYI request #34385 email]
Tēnā koe Erika
Request for Official Information: Vaccine Mandates at Treaty Settlements office
Thank you for your correspondence of 5 April 2026 requesting the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. What number of staff did your office terminate or place on any form of " extended
leave" due to vaccination mandates in 2021/2022?
2. When did you initiate and then remove your policy for only employing vaccinated
staff?
3. Would you please kindly share the emails and correspondence regarding this decision
to initiate and then remove this policy for only hiring vaccinated staff?
4. Please share a copy of the policy in its draft and final form
5. Please share the workplace risk assessment for the Covid-19 disease
A response to your request is set out below.
In responding, we need to note up front that we did not exist as Te Tari Whakatau at the time
your request relates to. At that time, Te Arawhiti was the relevant departmental agency and,
as such, we are providing historical information related to the decisions and actions of that
agency at the time.
In response to the parts of your request relating to extended leave, please note that Te Tari
Whakatau does not record data on the reason why a staff member goes on leave without pay.
New reporting would need to be created to answer these parts of your request and there is no
requirement under the Act for agencies to do this to respond to a request. Therefore, I am
refusing these parts of your request under section 18(g)(i) of the Act, as the information is not
held by Te Tari Whakatau, or any other agency subject to the Act.
In response to the remaining parts of question one, I can advise that there were no employees
terminated for COVID vaccination reasons in Te Tari Whakatau.
P +64 4 494 9800
E [email address]
w Whakatau.govt.nz
Question two asks about the dates Te Tari Whakatau COVID Vaccination Policy (the Policy)
was initiated and then removed. The Policy was effective as of 1 February 2022, and
subsequently removed 11 November 2022. An update to the Policy, removing requirement for
evidence of vaccination, was made effective 1 August 2022.
In response to question 3, please see
attached copies of internal guidance and decision
documents shared by Te Tari Whakatau relating to implementation of the Policy, and
subsequently to no longer require evidence of COVID vaccination, and to place the Policy on
hold indefinitely.
In response to question four relating to a copy of the Policy in draft form, please note that Te
Tari Whakatau does not have access to Te Arawhiti’s draft Policy. Therefore, I am refusing this
part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act, as the document al eged to contain the
information requested, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found. Please see
attached a copy of the finalised Te Tari Whakatau COVID Vaccination Policy released to you in
full.
In response to question five, the Ministry of Justice completed Safety Plans that were
submitted to WorkSafe as they transitioned between COVID-19 Alert Levels.
Attached is the
one completed in May 2020 as part of the first change in Alert levels.
Te Arawhiti was not explicitly mentioned in those plans. However, Te Arawhiti was captured as
a tenant of the Justice Centre and as one part of the Ministry. All protocols that were designed
during this period also applied to Te Arawhiti.
After considering our response to your request, we can advise that it wil not be published on
our website.
If you have any concerns about the information in this response being published on our
website please contact us by emailing
[email address] by 5.00pm
on Tuesday 19 May 2026.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about this process is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or phone 0800
802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Peter Alsop
Director, Policy, Corporate and Technical Services
Extent of
Document
information
Reason for
number
Date
Document description
provided
withholding/refusing Page
1.
11/05/2020 COVID-19 Safety Plan - MOJ
Released in full
1-5
2.
11/1/2022 COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Released in full
6-17
Decision Document – Te
Arawhiti FINAL
3.
11/1/2022 Decision to implement COVID-19 Parts withheld
s 9(2)(a)
18
Vaccination Policy - Email from
CE Te Arawhiti
4.
1/02/2022 COVID-19 Vaccination Policy –
Released in full
19-23
Te Arawhiti FINAL
5.
27/07/2022 COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Released in full
24-34
Decision Document – Te
Arawhiti UPDATED
6.
29/07/2022 Decision to no longer require
Released in full
35
vaccination for staff – Email
from CE Te Arawhiti
7.
1/08/2022 COVID-19 Vaccination Policy –
Released in full
36-42
Te Arawhiti UPDATED
8.
1/08/2022 COVID-19 and general illness
Released in full
43-47
guidelines
9.
11/11/2022 Decision to place COVID-19
Parts withheld
s 9(2)(a)
48
Vaccination Policy on hold
indefinitely – Email from Senior
Advisor OCE Te Arawhiti
10.
11/11/2022 COVID-19 and general illness
Released in full
49-51
guidelines - UPDATED
