9 June 2023

Lance D. Lavery

fyi-request-22774-95ffddf0@requests.fyi.org.nz

Tēnā koe Lance

Official Information Act (OIA) request: Regarding Excess Deaths and COVID-19 Vaccination in New Zealand

On 11 May 2023 Stats NZ received your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), for the following information:

1. Comprehensive annual mortality rates in New Zealand from 2015 through 2023, inclusive of data on cause-specific mortality, where available.

2. Data regarding the official COVID-19 death count in New Zealand, inclusive of a breakdown by age, gender, and comorbidity status, where possible.

3. Information about the vaccination program in New Zealand, specifically data related to the number of individuals vaccinated, the types of vaccines administered, and any adverse events reported post-vaccination.

4. Any internal reports or communications discussing the potential impact of the COVID-19 vaccination program on mortality rates.

5. Any research or official documentation the government possesses that discuss a potential correlation between the COVID-19 vaccination program and excess deaths, if any.

6. Information about the government's stance and policies regarding the use of genetically engineered mRNA vaccines and the potential risks associated with them.

Stats NZ is aware that the Ministry of Health has received the same request from you, and has transferred it to Te Whatu Ora for response.

Stats NZ is refusing part one of your request under section 18(g) of the Official Information Act as the information is already publicly available.

You can view and download data on mortality rates from Stats NZ’s Infoshare website at: http://infoshare.stats.govt.nz/ under the category ‘Population’ and the subject ‘Death Rates – DMM’. You can also find information on mortality rates on the Stats NZ website at: https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/births-and-deaths-year-ended-december-2022-including-abridged-period-life-table/. Annual deaths for the period requested are also shown here as a graph and table. The data is only available to the year ended December 2022; however, weekly indicators of deaths and death rates through 2023 are available on the COVID data portal at https://www.stats.govt.nz/experimental/covid-19-data-portal, under the “Health” tab.

Stats NZ does not hold or publish data on cause-specific mortality but cause-of-death data is available on Te Whatu Ora’s mortality web tool at: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/data-and-statistics/mortality-web-tool/, which is linked to from the Stats NZ webpage listed above.

It is important to note that many factors need to be accounted for when analysing mortality, including population changes and other age effects. This is particularly so in New Zealand due to our ageing population. Because of this, demographers (experts in population dynamics) predominantly conduct analysis using age-specific death rates (deaths in a particular age group per population of that age group). Direct comparisons of death counts, without accounting for changes in rates, will almost always lead to inaccurate assessments about mortality, since population changes are not uniform across age groups. As an example, New Zealand’s 80+ population is growing faster than it did a few years ago and, because of this, the number of overall deaths are increasing, even though the death rate in this age group is actually decreasing over the years.

Stats NZ’s Information Centre is often the best place to start seeking statistical information, as the Information Centre exists to help users find the statistical information they are looking for. Stats NZ’s Information Centre can let you know what data Stats NZ can provide and show you how to find it. This includes assistance with navigating and retrieving data from Infoshare, such as those outlined above. This service is free and often results in a same day response.

You can contact our Information Centre in the following ways:

By phone – 0508 525 525

By email – info@stats.govt.nz

Online form

Stats NZ is refusing parts two, three and six of your request under section 18(g) of the Act on the grounds that we do not hold this information.

With respect to parts four and five of your request, Stats NZ has identified correspondence with the Ministry of Health on responding to inaccurate claims about correlation between mortality rates and COVID-19 vaccinations. This is attached. Redactions have been made under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural persons, and to remove out-of-scope content.

Please note, although the text in the attached states “An analysis of the observed weekly deaths compared to the expected deaths across the pandemic is currently going through the peer review process for publication”, this information is incorrect and reflects a misunderstanding between the email correspondents. Stats NZ is, however, considering looking into observed versus expected deaths across the pandemic in future.

Should you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact Stats NZ at: OfficeoftheGSCE@stats.govt.nz.

If you are not satisfied with this response, you may contact us via the email address above and/or have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.

It is Stats NZ’s policy to proactively release its responses to official information requests where possible. This letter, with your personal details removed, will be published on the Stats NZ website. Publishing responses creates greater openness and transparency of government decision-making and helps better inform public understanding of the reasons for decisions.

Ngā mihi nui, nā

Mike Webb

Senior Manager – External & Government Relations | Office of the Chief Executive

Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa
stats.govt.nz