13 February 2024
Ref: DOIA 2324-1420
M Bell
Email: M Bell
[FYI request #25345 email]
Tēnā koe M Bell
Thank you for your email of 7 January 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, CE Caroline Tremain Dear Caroline Tremain There
is an MBIE document signed on your behalf by Peter Crabtree filenamed “201001 Pfizer indemnity
business case final version”. This document is titled “Request that the Minister of Finance give an
indemnity in favour of Pfizer and BioNTech under section 65ZD of the Public Finance Act 1989”. On
page 11, section 32 of this document it says the following:
“In addition we will develop key messaging that provides context around the potential issue of
indemnity in the event of public or media interest. We will also consider how to handle media and
public questions about the indemnity”
My requests are:
1) please summarize what exactly is the “potential issue of indemnity”.
2) please provide the internal documents detailing the key messaging that was developed to
respond to media / public questions about the indemnity, and also how MBIE considered to
handle media / public questions arising.
The “potential issue of indemnity” referred to is a reference to the need to sign indeminities in order
secure pandemic supply of vaccines in general. A section on indemnities was included in the general
compendium of media Q&A for the vaccine programme. The compendium is attached in full.
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 this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Nāku noa, nā
Simon Rae
Policy Director – Emerging Technologies
Science, Innovation and International
