Cabinet material relating to the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No 2)

These papers relate to the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill (No 2) (the Bill). The Bill amends the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 to enable the Government to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19 more quickly and effectively. Please note some information has been withheld from these documents under the following sections of the Official Information Act 1982:

• 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to Ministers of the Crown or members of an organisation or officers and employees of any public service agency or organisation in the course of their duty
• 9(2)(ba)(i) – to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the authority of any enactment, where the making available of the information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or information from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such information should continue to be supplied
• 9(2)(h) – to maintain legal professional privilege.

Cabinet papers 

• COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill - Further Policy Approvals and Approval for Introduction
  This paper seeks approval to increase the maximum penalties from the original policy decisions, and seeks approval for the Bill to be introduced to the House. 
• Management Of Police Checkpoints During Restricted Movements Under Covid-19 Response
  This paper seeks approval for the power to stop vehicles to be extended to certain enforcement officers acting under the supervision of constables. This paper was prepared by New Zealand Police and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 
• Proposed COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill
  This paper includes the original policy decisions for the Bill, and seeks approval to begin the drafting process. 
   

The following documents are also publicly available for reference:

• COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill
• Regulatory Impact Statement: Legislative Framework for Managed Isolation and Quarantine
• Regulatory Impact Statement: Legislative improvements to support the public health response to COVID-19