COVID-19 "worst case scenario" and other response planning
Harold made this Official Information request to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
The request was successful.
From: Harold
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
I would like to make a request for information relating to scenario planning conducted by the DPMC COVID-19 Group Readiness & Planning Team and other COVID-19 scenario planning.
I would like to request:
ONE: The minutes of a 28 September 2021 meeting of the COVID-19 National Response Group refers to ‘worst case scenario’ planning:
“The Chair updated NRG that the DPMC Readiness & Planning Team will be hosting ‘worst case scenario’ planning in case the tail of the Auckland outbreak is not contained.”
The meeting minutes can be accessed here (quote on p.13, para 7):
https://fyi.org.nz/request/17765/respons...
I would like to request a copy of any agenda or other document prepared for this planning, and any documents reporting its outcomes. If the outcomes and recommendations stemming from this planning were reported to the COVID-19 Chief Executives Board, I would like to request a copy of this report or presentation.
TWO: The minutes of a 28 November 2021 meeting of the COVID-19 National Response Leadership Team refers to planning for the Omicron variant:
“…next week the COVID-19 Readiness and Planning team will undertake some scenario testing in light of the new variant to test summer readiness. Outcomes will be given to CCB.”
The meeting minutes can be accessed at the link above (quote on p.204, para 10).
I would like to request a copy of these “outcomes” presented to CCB.
THREE: A 14 January 2022 document released by DPMC refers to an Omicron planning workshop (p.5):
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
“An Omicron planning sprint is underway with a NRG workshop held on 11 January… Summary collateral is being developed and will be shared with stakeholders, including CCB next week.”
I would like to request a copy of the “summary collateral” referred to here.
FOUR: An 18 February 2022 document released by DPMC refers to an Omicron Phase 3 planning workshop (p.6):
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
“A multi-agency workshop was held on 9 February to understand the preparations by agencies for the impacts of Omicron when in Phase 3. A noting paper for the CCB outlines key observations for the workshop, accompanied by an A3 detailing the key points discussed in the workshop.”
I would like to request copies of the “noting paper” and A3 referred to here.
FIVE: In four documents dated March released by DPMC, “winter planning” sessions are referred to:
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
“The first of the winter planning sessions were held this week using a scenario of ongoing COVID-19 outbreak alongside outbreaks of measles, RSV, fly, and whooping cough etc.” (In report dated 4 March)
“The second of the winter planning sessions was held this week using a scenario of a new variant in the community during winter.” (In report dated 11 March)
“The third of the winter planning sessions was held this week using a scenario of agencies needing to return their focus back to core business and transition COVID-19 ongoing work into BAU processes…” (In report dated 18 March)
“The fourth of the winter planning sessions was held this week using a scenario of what does a continuous improvement and lessons management process look like…” (In report dated 25 March)
I would like to request copies of whatever reports were produced to summarise the outcomes of these four planning sessions.
SIX: If further winter planning sessions have been held since the four referred to above, I would like to request copies of whatever reports were produced to summarise the outcomes of these planning sessions.
Yours faithfully,
Harold
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Tēnā koe
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
received on 18 August 2022, copied below.
We will respond to your request within the statutory timeframes set out in
the Act. If we are unable to meet these timeframes we will notify you.
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If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us at
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details, will be removed.
Ngâ mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [2][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Tçnâ koe Harold,
I am emailing in regard to your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
request of 18 August 2022 relating to scenario planning conducted by the
DPMC COVID-19 Group Readiness & Planning Team and other COVID-19 scenario
planning.
I note that your request asks for a broad number of documents that would
require an extensive search of our records to locate, as well as undertake
further consultation on their release. Consequently your request as it
currently stands is likely to be refused under section 18(f) of the OIA as
the information you’ve requested cannot be made available without
substantial collation or research that would unreasonably interfere with
the operations of this agency.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet would therefore like to
invite you to consider narrowing the scope of your request to a specific
document or subject.
We would be grateful if you could please inform us whether you would be
willing to narrow the scope of your request, as well as provide a refined
scope, no later than Monday 5 September 2022. As previously advised, If we
do not hear from you by this date your request is likely to be refused
under section 18(f) of the OIA.
Ngâ mihi nui,
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
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2. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
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4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
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8. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
From: Harold
Dear DPMC,
Thanks for your message. As a refinement of my request, I would like to propose limiting my request to just the documents I asked for in parts one to four (i.e., removing parts five and six of my initial request). So my refined request would be:
"ONE: The minutes of a 28 September 2021 meeting of the COVID-19 National Response Group refers to ‘worst case scenario’ planning:
“The Chair updated NRG that the DPMC Readiness & Planning Team will be hosting ‘worst case scenario’ planning in case the tail of the Auckland outbreak is not contained.”
The meeting minutes can be accessed here (quote on p.13, para 7):
https://fyi.org.nz/request/17765/respons...
I would like to request a copy of any agenda or other document prepared for this planning, and any documents reporting its outcomes. If the outcomes and recommendations stemming from this planning were reported to the COVID-19 Chief Executives Board, I would like to request a copy of this report or presentation.
TWO: The minutes of a 28 November 2021 meeting of the COVID-19 National Response Leadership Team refers to planning for the Omicron variant:
“…next week the COVID-19 Readiness and Planning team will undertake some scenario testing in light of the new variant to test summer readiness. Outcomes will be given to CCB.”
The meeting minutes can be accessed at the link above (quote on p.204, para 10).
I would like to request a copy of these “outcomes” presented to CCB.
THREE: A 14 January 2022 document released by DPMC refers to an Omicron planning workshop (p.5):
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
“An Omicron planning sprint is underway with a NRG workshop held on 11 January… Summary collateral is being developed and will be shared with stakeholders, including CCB next week.”
I would like to request a copy of the “summary collateral” referred to here.
FOUR: An 18 February 2022 document released by DPMC refers to an Omicron Phase 3 planning workshop (p.6):
https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/Proactive...
“A multi-agency workshop was held on 9 February to understand the preparations by agencies for the impacts of Omicron when in Phase 3. A noting paper for the CCB outlines key observations for the workshop, accompanied by an A3 detailing the key points discussed in the workshop.”
I would like to request copies of the “noting paper” and A3 referred to here."
Please let me know if this is workable.
Yours sincerely,
Harold
From: Harold
Dear DPMC,
I was just wanting to follow up on this. Was the refined request I sent on 31 August suitable, and can I expect a response to this refined request?
Yours sincerely,
Harold
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora koe,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
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communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
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The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
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4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
5. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora koe,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
Link: [2]File-List
Link: [3]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [4]themeData
Link: [5]colorSchemeMapping
show quoted sections
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
2. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
3. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
4. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
5. file:///tmp/Signature_files/colorschememapping.xml
6. file:///tmp/Signature_files/filelist.xml
7. file:///tmp/Signature_files/editdata.mso
8. file:///tmp/Signature_files/themedata.thmx
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