19 August 2022
Chris Furlong
[FYI request #20001 email]
Tēnā koe Chris,
Your Official Information Act request, reference H2022008413:
Thank you for your email of 24 July 2022 requesting information relating to Monkeypox.
As part of the transformation of the health and disability system, as of 1 July 2022 part of the functions
previously under the Manatū Hauora (Ministry of Health) COVID-19 Health System Response
directorate have now transferred to Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. As the matters you have raised
now fall under the functions of Te Whatu Ora, our agency will respond to your request which has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). I shall quote and respond to each part of
your request below.
Please provide any documents that refer to:
1. Contact tracing strategy for MPX in Aotearoa NZ. This would include, but is not limited to:
contact tracing IT infrastructure planning; MPX contact tracing approach (ie national vs
district/local); equity, cultural, and privacy strategy (given effective contact tracing for
monkeypox requires high trust).
2. Any planning and discussion regarding a long-term surveillance strategy for MPX, if community
transmission occurs.
No documents have been identified within scope of your request; as such, your request is refused
under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information requested does not exist.
Noting Aotearoa’s controlled cases at present, case tracing and case investigation for Monkeypox is
currently led through local public health units (PHUs) with Medical Officers of Health. The National
Investigation and Tracing Centre and Public Health Operations Group within Te Whatu Ora will
continue to support PHUs where appropriate, to enable a local response.
Case definitions and guidance for managing Monkeypox cases and contacts is available publicly on
the Manatū Hauora website here
: www.health.govt.nz/publication/communicable-disease-control-
manual. It is important to note that this is the interim advice and will be consistently reviewed to
ensure to is up to date.
At present, surveillance of Monkeypox is monitored daily. The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Manatū
Hauora provide daily updates on global and national surveillance to a Monkeypox Operational Group led by
Te Whatu Ora.
Manatū Hauora continues to liaise with Environmental Science and Research (ESR) on investigating how
wastewater testing could be utilised for Monkeypox, should it be required.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. You are advised of your right to also raise any
concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
83 Molesworth Street, PO Box 5013
Wellington New Zealand 6140
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, Te Whatu Ora may decide to
proactively release a copy of this response on our website. All requester data, including your name and
contact details, will be removed prior to release.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Matt Hannant
Interim Director Outbreak Response
National Public Health Service
