EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16 May 2024
James
[FYI request #26539 email]
Ref: OIA OIA-2023/24-0807
Tēnā koe James
Official Information Act request: Covid-19 Recognition Award pins
Thank you for your Official Information Act (theAct) request received on 26 April 2024.
You requested:
“The exact number of Covid-19 Response Recognition Award Pins that were
ordered. How many Awards, if any are stil leftover or haven’t been
distributed? How many awards if any have been returned?
Total costs of logistics involved if any? This should include al distribution
costs of the pins/awards including return costs if any.
Total number of people employed on this task and the al ocated costs to
distribute the awards. When was the distribution of the award started and the
date it was deemed completed, if it has been completed.
Are any people stil employed on this project, if so how many? What is are
their roles?”
The Government established the Covid-19 Response Award to recognise people
who have contributed to New Zealand’s COVID-19 response. A project team was
established within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) to lead
this work.
Response to each of your questions
The exact number of Covid-19 Response Recognition Award Pins that were
ordered.
28,887 pins were ordered.
How many Awards, if any are stil leftover or haven’t been distributed?
As at 2 August 2023, 26,194 individuals or organisations had been approved for
awards. Most of these awards had been distributed but the New Zealand Defence
4877343
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
Force continued to hold some awards that were yet to be approved or distributed when
the project concluded.
Aside from the Defence Force, there are no approved Covid-19 Response Recognition
Awards that are yet to be distributed.
There is a smal number of pins remaining. These are retained and, while stocks
remain, can be used to fulfil requests for replacements.
How many awards if any have been returned?
The Covid-19 Response Recognition Award project distributed awards to
organisations. 22 of these awards were returned to DPMC by the postal system due to
incorrect addresses.
Other government agencies were responsible for distributing the awards to individual
recipients. As such, DPMC does not hold information relating to returns due to incorrect
address data for individual recipients. I am therefore refusing this part of your request
under section 18(g) of the Act on the basis that the information requested is not held by
DPMC.
Total costs of logistics involved if any? This should include al distribution costs of the
pins/awards including return costs if any.
The total cost of logistics was $76,767 plus GST. This includes invoices for freighting,
transport, postage and courier services. There was an additional invoice for $16,957.96
plus GST. This was for both postal distribution costs and printing services. The
breakdown of postal costs is not provided in the invoice.
Total costs of the project up until 31 May 2023 have been released in an earlier OIA
response published on the website. This can be found at:
https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-10/dpmc-roia-oia-2022-23-
1066_0.pdf.
Total number of people employed on this task and the al ocated costs to distribute the
awards. When was the distribution of the award started and the date it was deemed
completed, if it has been completed.
Two fixed-term positions, a project manager, and a senior project advisor, were created
to support this project. The project manager position was for a 12 month fixed term.
The senior project advisor was for an 8.5 month fixed term.
The costs of distribution are addressed in the above answer. Distribution to recipients
began at the start of 2023 and the project concluded in August 2023.
Are any people stil employed on this project, if so how many? What is are their roles?
No.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
4877343
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
This response wil be published on DPMC’s website during our regular publication
cycle. Typical y, information is released monthly, or as otherwise determined. Your
personal information including name and contact details wil be removed for
publication.
Nāku noa, nā
Nicola Purvis
Acting Clerk of the Executive Council
4877343
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
