133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
8 July 2022
Courtney Alice
By email: [FYI request #19223 email]
Ref: H202205713
Tēnā koe Courtney
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health (the Ministry) on 27 April 2022 for information about:
“1. the expected timeframes for the disestablishment or phasing out of the requirement for
New Zealand citizens to obtain a pre-departure tests prior to reentering New Zealand
following international travel; and
2. public health advice relied upon or relating to the decision to maintain this entry
requirement currently, particularly in light of the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community
in New Zealand.
On 22 June 2022 the Ministry emailed you to advise of the decision in response to your request.
Four documents have been identified within scope of your request. Please note excerpts of
Documents one to four have been released in accordance with section 16(1)(e) of the Act, with
information deemed out of scope of your request excluded. I have considered the countervailing
public interest in release in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the need
to withhold at this time.
From 11:59pm Monday 20 June 2022 travellers to New Zealand no longer need a COVID-19
pre-departure test.
I trust this information fulfils your request. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to
ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may
be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Maree Roberts
Deputy Director-General System Strategy and Policy
Appendix 1: Documents for release
#
Date
Title
Decision on release
1
14 January 2022
Memo: Health rationale for DPMC’s
Excerpts provided under
paper on ‘Reconnecting New
section 16(1)(e) of the Act
Zealanders: Omicron update’
2
4 February 2022
Briefing: Requirements for the
medium-risk pathway (HR20220130)
3
13 April 2022
Email correspondence: FW: ODPH
PDT preference
4
14 April 2022
Memo: Review of the testing regime
for air arrivals
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