17 June 2026
Penny Claridge
[FYI request #34797 email]
Ref: OIA-2025/26-0774
Tēnā koe Penny,
Official Information Act request relating to pandemic preparedness, GAVI, and the
New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement
Thank you for your request made under the Official Information Act (the Act), which was
received by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) on 29 May 2026. You
requested:
“[…] the following information:
1. Any papers, briefings, agendas, or records of decisions from the Cabinet
National Security Committee (NSC) that address pandemic preparedness in the
context of New Zealand's relationship with GAVI (the Vaccine Al iance), the
World Health Organization, or the Gates Foundation, during the period 1
January 2024 to date.
2. Any papers, briefings, agendas, or records of decisions from the Cabinet
National Security Committee or any Cabinet committee that address the
implications of the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement for New Zealand's
national security or biosecurity, specifically including any discussion of
pharmaceutical supply chain resilience or emergency vaccine procurement,
during the period 1 January 2024 to 26 April 2026.
3. Any correspondence, briefing papers, or records of communication between
DPMC officials and Helen Clark - in any capacity - regarding pandemic
preparedness, GAVI's role in New Zealand's health security framework, or the
NZ-India FTA pharmaceutical provisions, during the period 1 January 2024 to
date.
4. Any DPMC or Cabinet records that address New Zealand's obligations or
commitments under GAVI's co-financing or support agreements, and whether
those commitments were considered during NZ-India FTA negotiations, during
the period 1 January 2024 to 26 April 2026.
5. Any DPMC assessments, risk papers, or briefings regarding the 2026 WHO
Public Health Emergency of International Concern declarations - specifical y the
Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC/Uganda (declared 17 May 2026) and the
Bangladesh measles outbreak - prepared during the period 1 January 2026 to
date.
I note that some of this information may be subject to confidentiality claims on national
security grounds under section 6(a) of the Official Information Act 1982. I request that
any such withholding be assessed carefully against the public interest in transparency
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
5159281
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz
regarding decisions that affect New Zealand's pandemic preparedness framework and
publicly-funded health infrastructure.”
For ease of reference, we have numbered the parts of your request.
I believe Part 1 of your request is more closely connected to the functions of the Ministry of
Health (MoH), while Part 2 is more closely connected to the functions of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Minister for Trade and Investment, Hon Todd
McClay. Part 4 of your request, insofar as this seeks Cabinet material, is also more closely
connected to the Minister for Trade and Investment.
Accordingly, under section 14(b)(i ) of the Act, I have decided to transfer Part 1 of your
request to the Ministry of Health, as wel as Part 2 and the relevant aspects of Part 4 of your
request to the Minister for Trade and Investment,. As MFAT has already received a similar
request from you, they have advised that a formal transfer of Part 2 to them is not required in
this instance. We therefore refer you to MFAT’s forthcoming response with respect to Part 2
of your request. Parts 3, 5 and the remainder of Part 4 wil remain with DPMC.
Final y, because of the consultations needed in order to reach these decisions, the timeframe
for transfer has also been extended under section 15A of the Act.
The Ministry of Health and the Minister for Trade and Investment have the usual timeframes
under the Act from receipt of this transfer to make a decision on your request.
Nāku noa, nā
Jenna Hansen
Manager, Accountability and Ministerial Services
5159281
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