13 March 2024
C177729
Colin Whiting
[FYI request #25058 email]
Tēnā koe Colin
Thank you for your request of 31 January 2024 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa, requesting information about clause 7A and 9B exemptions from the
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccination) Order 2021. Your request has been
considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
You requested, in response to information previously provided by Corrections under the OIA
(our reference C176430):
How it was possible for 220 Corrections staff to be exempted from having a Covid19
vaccination booster under clause 7A, when clause 7A was replaced by clause 9B on
the 12th November 2021. It is my understanding that at the time any unvaccinated
Corrections staff who had received an exemption under clause 7A, had to re-apply to
receive an exemption under clause 9B. My understanding of your reply, (along with
your reply from a previous FOIA request) is therefore that 220 fully vaccinated
Corrections staff prior to November 12th 2021, were exempted under clause 7A from
having to receive a Covid19 vaccination booster, because they had contracted
Covid19.
Please be advised that Corrections provided you with the incorrect information in response
to both OIA requests dated 16 October and 6 December 2023 and we wish to apologise for
this error. All 220 staff referred to previously, returned to work under the version of clause
7A that came into force on 15 May 2022 which can be found
here. No staff were authorised
under clause 9 or the version of clause 7A that was in force as of 25 October 2021.
We apologise for any confusion our prior response caused and trust the information
provided is of assistance.
If you require any further information or assistance relating to the COVID-19 Public Health
legislation response, please contact your lawyer.
NATIONAL OFFICE, WELLINGTON
Mayfair House, 44 – 52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140,
Phone +64 4 460 3000
www.corrections.govt.nz
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I encourage you to raise any concerns about this response with Corrections. Alternatively,
you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Leigh Marsh
National Commissioner