The Ministry of Health has welcomed the Public Service Commission’s report following its inquiry into the alleged inappropriate use of information provided for the 2023 Census and COVID 19 vaccination purposes.
The Ministry takes a level of reassurance that no actual inappropriate use of information has been identified and has acknowledged and fully accepted the findings in the final report.
In response to the report, the Ministry has published the following documents that were provided to the Public Service Commission to assist with the Inquiry. The documents fully detail the Ministry’s response and the steps taken to address the concerns raised.
| Date of document | From - To | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 05 October 2021 | Tim Allan (Grove, Darlow & Partners) to Jo Gibbs (National Director COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme Ministry of Health) | Data-sharing between Ministry of Health and Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency / Whānau |
| 19 October 2021 | Caroline Greaney (Group Manager, Office of the National Director, COVID-19 Vaccine, and Immunisation Programme) to Jo Gibbs | Sharing of data to support COVID-19 vaccination uptake in individuals who are unvaccinated |
| 05 November 2021 | Jo Gibbs to Dr Ashley Bloomfield | Reconsideration of WOCA data request |
| 05 November 2021 | Caroline Greaney to Dr Ashley Bloomfield | Talking Points: Dr Ashley Bloomfield’s meeting with John Tamihere, 5 November 2021 |
| 05 November 2021 | Dr Ashley Bloomfield to John Tamihere (Chief Executive Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency) | No title |
| 12 November 2021 | Jo Gibbs to Dr Ashley Bloomfield (cc: John Whaanga and Phil Knipe) | Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (WOCA) data request: Waikato |
| 15 November 2021 | Dr Ashley Bloomfield to John Tamihere | No title |
| 22 November 2021 | Peter Hughes (Public Service Commissioner) to Dr Ashley Bloomfield | Ministry of Health’s handling of a request for access to data |
| 26 November 2021 | Dr Ashley Bloomfield to Peter Hughes | No title |
| 09 December 2021 | Dr Ashley Bloomfield to John Tamihere | No title |
| 14 December 2021 | Caroline Greaney to Astrid Koornneef (Director, National Immunisation Programme cc: John Whaanga and Phil Knipe) | Iwi Data Requests |
| 15 December 2021 | Astrid Koornneef to Dr Ashley Bloomfield (cc: John Whaanga and Phil Knipe) | Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (WOCA) Data Request |
| 08 February 2022 | Astrid Koornneef to Dr Ashley Bloomfield (cc: John Whaanga and Phil Knipe) | Approach to COVID-19 vaccination data sharing for 5 to 11 year-olds |
| 09 February 2022 | Dr Ashley Bloomfield to iwi groups | No title |
| 09 February 2022 | Dr Ashley Bloomfield to John Tamihere | No title |
| February 2022 (signed 16 March 2022) | Ministry of Health and Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (WOCA) and Whānau Tahi | Agreement for the supply of information to support COVID-19 vaccination invitation and administration, and associated management processes |
| 20 June 2024 | Kristy Powell to Dr Diana Sarfati | Response to Public Service Commission Inquiry regarding alleged misuse of COVID-19 data |
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.
Key redaction codes:
- S 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons.
- S 9(2)(b)(ii) where its release would likely unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied the information.
- 9(2)(c) to avoid prejudice to measures to protect the health or safety of the public.
- S 9(2)(f)(iv) to maintain the constitutional conventions that protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials.
- S 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 and officers and employees of any public service agency.
- S 9(2)(h) to maintain legal professional privilege.
- S 9(2)(j) to enable a Minister or any public service agency to carry on negotiations without prejudice or disadvantage (including commercial and industrial negotiations).
