Removing isolation periods and mask mandates
Kylie made this Official Information request to Chris Hipkins
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Kylie to read a recent response and update the status.
From: Kylie
Dear Chris Hipkins,
Please provide any advice you were given from Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People, Te Aka Whai Ora the Māori Health Authority, or e Pou Hauora Tūmatanui the Public Health agency, or any other agencies regarding the removal of mask mandates from medical and disability care settings and, and removing the isolation period for COVID-19.
Ngā mihi,
KM Stewart
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
Kia ora
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with Prime Minister, Chris
Hipkins.
Please accept this as acknowledgement that your email has been received by
my office.
If you are writing about an issue relating to COVID-19, mental health,
immigration, housing or benefit assistance, here's a list of links which
you might find helpful:
COVID-19
For information on COVID-19, including the latest updates, go to
[1]www.covid19.govt.nz
For immigration and visa advice
Contact the call centre which is open 6:00am Monday to 10.00pm Friday
(NZT)
[2]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact/
For urgent housing or benefit enquiries:
∙ Call 0800 559 009 (for under 65)
∙ Call 0800 552 002 (for over 65)
If you need treatment or support for your health or wellbeing. The
following options are available:
Healthline – You can call Healthline for health advice on freephone 0800
611 116 at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Healthline staff
can advise you on the best thing to do in your situation, including which
services are near you and open.
1737 – If you need to talk to someone about how you are feeling, you can
call or text 1737 for free at any time to talk to a trained counsellor.
Mental health crisis teams – If you are concerned that someone is going to
hurt themselves or someone else, you can all your local mental health
crisis team. A full list of numbers is available here:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/mental-health-services/crisis-assessment-teams/
For Police assistance in an emergency call 111. For everything else use
105.
You can also make a report online at [4]www.105.police.govt.nz
We hope that this information is helpful, if not we will try to get back
to you as soon as possible.
Thank you again.
Office of the Prime Minister
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References
Visible links
1. http://www.covid19.govt.nz/
2. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact/
3. http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/se...
4. http://www.police.105.govt.nz/
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
I am writing on behalf of the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request.
Your request will be responded to under the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982.
Yours sincerely
Dinah Okeby
Office of the Prime Minister
Authorised by Rt Hon Chris Hipkins MP, Parliament Buildings Wellington 6160
show quoted sections
From: Kylie
Dear C Hipkins (MIN),
This is now VERY overdue. I look forward to your speedy reply.
Yours sincerely,
Kylie
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
Kia ora
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch with Prime Minister, Chris
Hipkins.
Please accept this as acknowledgement that your email has been received by
my office.
If you are writing about an issue relating to COVID-19, mental health,
immigration, housing or benefit assistance, here's a list of links which
you might find helpful:
COVID-19
For information on COVID-19, including the latest updates, go to
[1]www.covid19.govt.nz
For immigration and visa advice
Contact the call centre which is open 6:00am Monday to 10.00pm Friday
(NZT)
[2]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact/
For urgent housing or benefit enquiries:
∙ Call 0800 559 009 (for under 65)
∙ Call 0800 552 002 (for over 65)
If you need treatment or support for your health or wellbeing. The
following options are available:
Healthline – You can call Healthline for health advice on freephone 0800
611 116 at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Healthline staff
can advise you on the best thing to do in your situation, including which
services are near you and open.
1737 – If you need to talk to someone about how you are feeling, you can
call or text 1737 for free at any time to talk to a trained counsellor.
Mental health crisis teams – If you are concerned that someone is going to
hurt themselves or someone else, you can all your local mental health
crisis team. A full list of numbers is available here:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/mental-health-services/crisis-assessment-teams/
For Police assistance in an emergency call 111. For everything else use
105.
You can also make a report online at [4]www.105.police.govt.nz
We hope that this information is helpful, if not we will try to get back
to you as soon as possible.
Thank you again.
Office of the Prime Minister
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. http://www.covid19.govt.nz/
2. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact/
3. http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/se...
4. http://www.police.105.govt.nz/
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
Kia ora Kylie,
Thank you for raising this with us. An administrative error occurred which has caused delays in our response.
Please accept our sincere apologies for this mishap. Rest assured that we will endeavour to get a response to you as soon as feasible.
Ngā mihi,
Private Secretary (Executive Support)
Office of the Prime Minister
Authorised by Rt. Hon Chris Hipkins MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
show quoted sections
From: Paul Winter
Dear Kylie
I am emailing you in regard to your Official Information Act (OIA) request
as below, submitted on 14 August 2023, to the office of the former Prime
Minister, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins.
Please provide any advice you were given from Whaikaha Ministry of
Disabled People, Te Aka Whai Ora the Māori Health Authority, or e Pou
Hauora Tūmatanui the Public Health agency, or any other agencies regarding
the removal of mask mandates from medical and disability care settings
and, and removing the isolation period for COVID-19.
Once an individual ceases to be a Minister, they have no further
obligation to respond to an OIA request. At the end of their tenures, all
internal agency material held by Ministers is returned to the originating
departments or agencies or transferred to Archives New Zealand. Email
communications are held by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
We have reviewed your request to determine if we can respond. We have
determined that the information you have requested is not held by this
office. In the circumstances, we recommend you resubmit your request to
Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People, Te Aka Whai Ora the Māori Health
Authority, or e Pou Hauora Tūmatanui.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Winter| Private Secretary (Prime Minister and National Security and
Intelligence)
Office of the Prime Minister
DDI +64 21 367 796| Email [1][email address]
Authorised by Rt. Hon Christopher Luxon MP, Parliament Buildings,
Wellington
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References
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1. mailto:[email address]
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Mark Hanna left an annotation ()
I really hope you will complain to the Office of the Ombudsman about this. Delaying a request for several months, until the recipient is no longer a minister, should not be considered an acceptable way to avoid responding to OIA requests. This is significantly worse than the length unlawful delay you had already experienced.
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