National Security Committee Discussions on Pandemic Preparedness, GAVI, and NZ-India FTA
Penny Claridge made this Official Information request to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet did not have the information requested.
From: Penny Claridge
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information:
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 Alliance), the World Health Organization, or the Gates Foundation, during the period 1 January 2024 to date.
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.
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.
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.
Any DPMC assessments, risk papers, or briefings regarding the 2026 WHO Public Health Emergency of International Concern declarations - specifically 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 regarding decisions that affect New Zealand's pandemic preparedness framework and publicly-funded health infrastructure.
If any information is withheld, I request that the grounds for withholding be specified with reference to the relevant section of the Official Information Act 1982.
I trust this request can be completed within 20 working days as required by the Act.
Yours,
Penny Claridge
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982
received on 29 May 2026, copied below. We will respond to your request
within the statutory timeframes set out in the Act. If we are unable to
meet these timeframes we will notify you.
Your request will be managed by the Ministerial Services team within DPMC.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us at
[1][DPMC request email].
DPMC may publish the response to your OIA request. If we publish the
response your personal information, including your name and contact
details, will be removed.
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Corporate
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [2][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
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communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
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in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
Link: [5]colorSchemeMapping
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The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
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1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
2. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
3. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
5. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
6. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
7. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
8. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
9. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
From: Todd McClay (MIN)
Dear Penny,
We acknowledge receipt of your official information request which we
received today for the following information;
[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.
[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.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 20 working days after the day your request was
received.
If we are unable to respond to your request within the appropriate
timeframe, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If your OIA request requires full or part transfer, we will contact you
within the required timeframe.
Kind regards,
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|[1]A blue and white| Office of Hon Todd McClay |
|emblem Description | |
|automatically | |
|generated | |
| | MP for Rotorua |
| | |
| | Minister of Agriculture |
| | |
| | Minister of Forestry |
| | |
| | Minister for Trade and Investment |
| | |
| | Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| | |
| | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| | |
| | Email: [2][email address] Website: |
| |[3]www.Beehive,govt.nz |
| | |
| | Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, |
| |Wellington 6160, New Zealand |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Penny,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health - Manatû Hauora on 17 June 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 Alliance), the World Health Organization, or the Gates Foundation,
during the period 1 January 2024 to date."
The reference number for your request is H2026084337. We will endeavour to
respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than
16 July 2026 being 20 working days after the day your request was
received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries regarding your request, please feel free to
contact the OIA Services Team on [1][email address]. If any
additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request,
please do not hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into
account.
Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngâ mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatû Hauora
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora
Please find attached a letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
Link: [5]colorSchemeMapping
show quoted sections
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
mailto:[DPMC request email]
2. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
3. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
5. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
6. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
7. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
8. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
9. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
From: Todd McClay (MIN)
Kia ora,
On behalf of Hon Todd McClay, please find attached a response to your
information request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Kind regards,
Office of Hon Todd McClay
Office of Hon Todd McClay
MP for Rotorua
Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Forestry
Minister for Trade and Investment
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs
DDI: 04 817 6810
Email: [1][email address] Website: [2]www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Penny,
Please find attached the response to your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
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