Social media plays a critical role in how government agencies engage with the public, share timely information, and ensure accessibility to services and updates.
In May 2025, the Ministry announced its decision to add Bluesky to its suite of social media channels to keep the public informed. Expanding the Ministry’s digital presence by including emerging platforms like Bluesky ensures we reach the public across a diverse and changing digital landscape.
This proactive release provides the public with access to the documents that informed the Ministry’s decision-making process. This includes:
- Email correspondences that reflect key communications and consultation
- Copies of the Ministry’s communication strategy and implementation plans
- An internal Ministry memo to the Operational Leadership Committee.
The memo indicates that the Ministry would eventually cease posting on X (refer to paragraph 41). The Director-General of Health subsequently decided the Ministry would continue to maintain a presence on the platform, albeit with a reduced posting frequency. This decision supersedes the initial decisions outlined in the memo.
A small amount of information in this release would not be appropriate to release and, if requested, would be withheld under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA). Where this is the case, the relevant sections of the OIA 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)(g)(ii) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection of employees from improper pressure or harassment.
