18 September 2023
Ref: DOIA 2324-0413
Erika Whittome
By email
: [FYI request #23941 email]
Tēnā koe Erika,
Thank you for your request received on 24 August 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following
information:
“
Vaccination assessment tool
If your business or workplace isn’t covered by a government mandate for COVID-19 vaccination,
you can choose to do a risk assessment to see if you can require work to be carried out by
vaccinated workers, on health and safety grounds.”
Would you please share the minutes, emails and any correspondence and policy documents for
the decision to publish the above saying that a business or workplace may require work to be
"carried out by vaccinated workers, on health and safety grounds.
Please include any legal discussions and legal advice, and also refer to the specific sections of the
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 as the basis for this statement.
I am writing to advise you that MBIE needs to extend the time available to provide you with the
documents covered by your request. MBIE’s response will be sent to you no later than Friday 27th
October 2023 (a 28 working day extension).
The reason for this extension per section 15A of the Act is that:
• your request necessitates a search through a large quantity of information and meeting the
original time limit would unreasonably interfere with our operations, and;
• consultations with the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety and a number of other
government agencies necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper
response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact
[email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Charlotte De Feijter
Policy Team Leader, Employment Relations Policy
Workplace Relations and Safety Policy Branch
