Sebastian
[FYI request #15527 email]
5 July 2021
Dear Sebastian
Ref: DOIA 2021-2363
I refer to your request of 25 May 2021 for information under the Official Information
Act 1982 (the OIA):
This is a request for three sets of documents relating to the COVID-19 Vaccine
Strategy Taskforce and its Science and Technical Advisory Group.
I request, dated from December 2020 to February 2021:
1) Copies of all COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy Updates
2) Copies of the minutes of all COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy Taskforce meetings
3) Copies of the minutes of all Science and Technical Advisory Group meetings
I attach the material that comes within the scope of the request. Some information in
the documents has been withheld under the following sections of the OIA:
6(b)(ii):
information provided in confidence from an international
organisation;
9(2)(a):
to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of
deceased natural persons;
9(2)(ba)(i):
to protect information which is subject to an obligation of
confidence, 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; and
9(2)(ba)(ii): to protect information which is subject to an obligation of
confidence, where the making available of the information would
be likely otherwise to damage the public interest.
Section 6(a) of the OIA concerns conclusive reasons for withholding information. In
regard to information withheld under section 9(2), I do not consider that the
withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest considerations in
making the information available.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Simon Rae
Manager, International Science Partnerships
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment