Purchase of test kits in 2017
Virginia Crawford made this Official Information request to Jacinda Ardern
The request was refused by Jacinda Ardern.
From: Virginia Crawford
Dear Jacinda Ardern,
“In 2017 New Zealand purchased 23,140 Kg of "test kits" with a total value of US$92,221.86.
Practically every country in the world also purchased these test kits.The product code was 300215.
Could you please let me know
(1) what the exact labelling was on these test kits?
(2) what was the rationale behind purchasing these test kits at that time?”
I have been informed by the Ministry of Health that this information is not held by it or by any government department.
As you were Prime Minister at the time, I am certain you would have known about this, or at least have been privy to it, so I am respectfully asking you to supply the requested information.
https://web.archive.org/web/202009052104...
Yours faithfully,
Virginia Crawford
From: Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
Kia ora
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern.
If you are writing about an issue relating to COVID-19, mental health,
Immigration, housing or benefit assistance, here's a list of links that
you might find helpful:
For queries around Managed Isolation availability and/or exemptions:
miq.govt.nz
If you are overseas and need assistance please contact your nearest New
Zealand Embassy or Consulate. Contact details are listed in each
destination page on the SafeTravel website:
[1]https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/news/covi...
. For urgent consular assistance after-hours please contact +64 99 20 20
20 (monitored 24 hours a day).
For immigration and visa advice: contact the call centre which is open
6:00am Monday to midnight on Saturday (NZT).
[2]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact
For urgent housing or benefit enquiries:
∙ Call 0800 559 009 (for under 65)
∙ Call 0800 552 002 (for over 65)
If you need treatment or support for your health or wellbeing, the
following options are available.
Healthline – You can call Healthline for health advice on freephone 0800
611 116 at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Healthline staff
can advise you on the best thing to do in your situation, including which
services are near you and open.
1737 – If you need to talk to someone about how you are feeling, you can
call or text 1737 for free at any time to talk to a trained counsellor.
Mental health crisis teams – If you are concerned that someone is going to
hurt themselves or someone else, you can call your local mental health
crisis team. A full list of numbers is available here:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/mental-health-services/crisis-assessment-teams
For Police assistance In an emergency call 111.
For everything else use 105.
You can also make a report online at 105.police.govt.nz
We hope that one of the above links helps answer your question, if not we
will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you again
Office of the Prime Minister
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/news/covi...
2. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact
3. http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/se...
From: Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
I am writing on behalf of the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request.
Your request will be responded to under the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982.
Yours sincerely
Dinah Okeby
Office of the Prime Minister
Authorised by Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern MP, Parliament Buildings Wellington 6012
show quoted sections
From: J Ardern (MIN)
Jacinda Ardern
Tēnā koe
On behalf of Raj Nahna, I attach a letter in response to your OIA request.
Ngā mihi
Private Secretary (Executive Support)
Office of the Prime Minister
Authorised by Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
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From: Virginia Crawford
Dear J Ardern (MIN),
I have received a reply from your Chief of Staff regarding my request.
I am aware that the World Bank made a correction to the original document. However, I would make the following points:
(1) It is still a fact that "medical test kits" were purchased by most countries, including New Zealand, in 2017. This is a matter of public record and not misinformation as suggested by your Chief of Staff. Why did all these countries purchase test kits in 2017? What could have been the reason?
(2) The product code for those medical test kits was 30015 - the exact same code that identifies "Covid-19 Test Kits". How can this be explained?
Once again, I would reiterate that as Prime Minister at the time, you must have been aware of these purchases and why they were purchased, even though it might not be information that can be obtained from any other government department or agency.
I would therefore be grateful if you could supply this information.
Yours sincerely,
Virginia Crawford
From: Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
Kia ora
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern.
If you are writing about an issue relating to COVID-19, mental health,
Immigration, housing or benefit assistance, here's a list of links that
you might find helpful:
For queries around Managed Isolation availability and/or exemptions:
miq.govt.nz
If you are overseas and need assistance please contact your nearest New
Zealand Embassy or Consulate. Contact details are listed in each
destination page on the SafeTravel website:
[1]https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/news/covi...
. For urgent consular assistance after-hours please contact +64 99 20 20
20 (monitored 24 hours a day).
For immigration and visa advice: contact the call centre which is open
6:00am Monday to midnight on Saturday (NZT).
[2]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact
For urgent housing or benefit enquiries:
∙ Call 0800 559 009 (for under 65)
∙ Call 0800 552 002 (for over 65)
If you need treatment or support for your health or wellbeing, the
following options are available.
Healthline – You can call Healthline for health advice on freephone 0800
611 116 at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Healthline staff
can advise you on the best thing to do in your situation, including which
services are near you and open.
1737 – If you need to talk to someone about how you are feeling, you can
call or text 1737 for free at any time to talk to a trained counsellor.
Mental health crisis teams – If you are concerned that someone is going to
hurt themselves or someone else, you can call your local mental health
crisis team. A full list of numbers is available here:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/mental-health-services/crisis-assessment-teams
For Police assistance In an emergency call 111.
For everything else use 105.
You can also make a report online at 105.police.govt.nz
We hope that one of the above links helps answer your question, if not we
will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you again
Office of the Prime Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/news/covi...
2. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact
3. http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/se...
From: J Ardern (MIN)
Jacinda Ardern
Kia ora Virginia
Thank you for your email dated 30 March 2021 relating to purchase of test kits.
The website link you provided in your email dated 2 March 2021 identifies “COVID-19 Test Kits by Country in 2017.” I reiterate my earlier advice that COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. As advised earlier the World Bank made a statement on the misinformation of the link you shared on their website here: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statem....
Accurate and timely information can be found on the Unite against COVID-19 website: https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-reso.... Your views have been noted and the issues raised have been canvassed fully. We do not intend to reply to further correspondence on this topic.
Ngā mihi
Private Secretary
Office of the Prime Minister
show quoted sections
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Virginia Crawford left an annotation ()
One has to wonder why Ms Ardern (or her office), refuses to answer a perfectly legitimate question.
Link to this