5 September 2022
Harold
[FYI request #19522 email]
Ref: OIA-2021/22-1386
Dear Harold
Follow-up request relating to COVID-19 false information reporting cell
Thank you for your follow-up to the Official Information Act request response provided to you
on 18 July 2022. You requested that the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC) reconsider its response for the below information:
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
In response to questions 1 and 2 of your request, DPMC can now release the briefings titled
‘
Chal enges to Aotearoa’s Covid-19 response’ dated 17 December 2021 and 18 February
2022. Where information is withheld it is under one or more of the following sections of the
Act, as applicable:
• Section 6(a), to protect the security or defence of New Zealand or the
international relations of the Government of New Zealand
• Section 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of individuals
• Section 9(2)(ba)(i), to protect the supply of similar information in the future.
In response to question 3 of your request, as previously stated only an early draft terms of
reference document was created. It was not materially relied upon in producing the two
reports. Therefore, DPMC maintains its position to withhold the document in full under
section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free
and frank expression of opinion.
In making my decision, I have taken the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the
Act into account.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s website.
Yours sincerely
Tony Lynch
Deputy Chief Executive
National Security Group
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4603055
64 4 817 9698 www.dpmc.govt.nz