29 June 2022
Harold
[FYI request #19522 email]
Ref: OIA-2021/22-1386
Dear Harold
Official Information Act request relating to COVID-19 false information reporting cell
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request received on 31 May 2022.
You requested:
“ A report recently proactively released on the Unite Against COVID-19 website
refers to an inter-agency group providing reporting on COVID-19 false information:
“DPMC has brought together the National Assessments Bureau, the Ministry of
Health’s Disinformation Assessment and Response Team (DART)… into a virtual
triaging and reporting cell for false information regarding COVID-19. Its purpose will
be to provide a structure for collating, synthesising and reporting information to the
Prime Minister, other relevant Ministers and senior officials on the impact of false
information on public safety and the associated effect of COVID-19 response
measures on social cohesion. The first report to Ministers is expected before
Christmas and wil likely become fortnightly from February 2022… The cell wil
report to the Interagency Coordination Group, which is convened by DPMC to
support efforts to build resilience to false information.”
On the topic of this “cell” I would like to request the following:
1) A copy of all of the “ first report to Ministers” referred to above
2) Copies of all subsequent reports to Ministers in this series
3) If the cell has a set of terms of reference and/or an operating model, I would like
to request copies of them ”
I have decided under section 15A of the Act to extend the time limits for deciding on your
request by an additional 20 working days. Consequently, the extended due date for your
response will be 28 July 2022
The extension is required because of the consultations needed to make a decision on your
request. Despite the extension, a response will be sent to you as soon as possible.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under section
28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Corbett
Manager, Ministerial and Business Services
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4571244
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz