Scott
[FYI request #16155 email] 14 October 2021
Dear Scott
Ref: DOIA 2122-0160 I refer to your request dated 22 July 2021 for information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
“I’d like to request copies of the following documents, dated since the beginning of
February:
1) All email communications between MBIE and Biocell Corporation, including
copies of all Biocell’s COVID-19 vaccine “update reports”
2) All email communications between MBIE and the Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa
New Zealand”
I have attached the email communications between MBIE and Biocell Corporation that
are within scope. I will provide email communications between MBIE and the Vaccine
Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand within the next week by 21 October 2021. Please note
that some information in the documents has been withheld under the following
sections of the Act:
9(2)(a)
in order to protect the privacy of 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;
9(2)(b)(ii)
would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial
position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the
information
9(2)(j)
enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or
organisation holding the information to carry on, without
prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial
and industrial negotiations).
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. Please contact me if you
wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response.
Yours sincerely
Simon Rae
Manager, International Science Partnerships
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
