Cabinet and briefing material regarding the COVID-19 response

Cabinet and briefing material regarding the COVID-19 response

In February, April and June 2023 Cabinet considered COVID-19 public health measures, including mandatory self-isolation for COVID-19 cases, mask use and the regulation of COVID-19 point-of-care tests.

In April 2023 Cabinet agreed to revoke the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Point-of-care Tests) Order 2021.

In July 2023 the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee approved the Aotearoa New Zealand Strategic Framework for Managing COVID-19 (‘the strategic framework’), published on the Ministry's website here.  The strategic framework builds on the agreed high-level strategy and looks out over the next 18 months. The framework’s objectives are to strengthen preparedness, protect Aotearoa New Zealand from the impacts of COVID-19, apply lessons learned over the past three years, and to integrate the Government's response into a ‘new business-as-usual’ (BAU) system that enhances pandemic resilience.

In August 2023 Cabinet recommended that the remaining two mandatory public health measures relating to COVID-19 be revoked – covering a requirement that cases isolate for 7 days, and a requirement that visitors to health service settings wear masks. The then Minister of Health (Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall) agreed with the recommendation and revoked the two orders effective from 15 August 2023.

Cabinet material relating to the Aotearoa New Zealand Strategic Framework:

• Cabinet minute: Report of the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee: Period Ended 28 July 2023 (CAB-23-MIN-0338)
• Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee minute: Aotearoa New Zealand Strategic Framework for Managing COVID-19 (SWC-23-MIN-0095)
• Cabinet paper: Aotearoa New Zealand Strategic Framework for Managing COVID-19
• Aotearoa New Zealand Strategic Framework for Managing COVID-19 

Cabinet material relating to the COVID-19 public health measures February, April and June 2023:

February 2023

• Cabinet minute: Report of the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee: Period Ended 24 February 2023 (CAB-23-MIN-055)
• Cabinet committee minute: COVID-19 Public Health Measures (SWC-23-MIN-0006)
• Cabinet paper: COVID-19 public health measures

April 2023

• Cabinet minute: COVID-19 Public Health Measures (CAB-23-MIN-0136)
• Cabinet committee minute: COVID-19 Public Health Measures (SWC-23-MIN-0032)
• Cabinet paper: COVID-19 public health measures

June 2023

• Cabinet minute: Report of the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee: Period Ended 23 June 2023 (CAB-23-MIN-0259)
• Cabinet committee minute: COVID-19 Public Health Measures (SWC-23-MIN-0070)
• Cabinet paper: COVID-19 public health measures

August 2023 Cabinet material relating to the decision to revoke the final two COVID-19 orders:

• Cabinet minute: COVID-19 Public Health Measures (CAB–23-MIN-0369) 
• Cabinet paper: COVID-19 public health measures (14 August 2023), including Appendix 1: Public health advice from the Director-General of Health;
• Briefing: Review of the COVID-19 Orders July 2023 (H2023028724), including Appendix 1: Intelligence, Surveillance & Knowledge Public Health Risk Assessment (PHRA) Update, 11 July 2023 and Appendix 2: Regulatory Impact Statement (external link to the Treasury's website).

Further briefings and reports to provide context to the Minister's decision to revoke the final two COVID-19 orders:

• Briefing: Cabinet paper cover brief: COVID-19 public health measures, 4 August 2023 (H2023028717). 
• Memorandum from Dr Nick Chamberlain (National Director, National Public Health Service, Te Whatu Ora) to Dr Andrew Old (Deputy Director-General of Health, Public Health Agency, Manatū Hauora), 31 July 2023 
• Aide-Memoire: Talking points for COVID-19 public health measures paper for Cabinet on 14 August 2023, 11 August 2023 (H2023030601) 
• Briefing: Revoking COVID-19 Orders: for signature, 14 August 2023 (H2023027102).

Some parts of this information release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the Act that would apply have been identified. Where information has been withheld, no public interest has been identified that would outweigh the reasons for withholding it. Some information has been redacted from the Cabinet minute as it is out of scope of the subject of this proactive release.

Key to redaction codes:

• S 9(2)(a) of the Act: to protect the privacy of natural persons
• S 9(2)(h) of the Act: to maintain legal professional privilege