133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
23 April 2024
Erika Whit ome
By email: [FYI request #26210 email]
Ref:
H2024038269
Tēnā koe Erika
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 24 March 2024 for information regarding publishing
responses under the Act. Each part of your request is addressed in turn:
What is the criteria is for publishing OIA responses on the ministry’s website?
What is the criteria for this publishing OIA on the ministry’s website in relation to requests
around Covid 19, vaccination and health outcomes as a result of vaccination?
Openness and transparency are critical drivers of public trust and confidence in government
and promote active participation and engagement from the public.
Responses to OIA requests are made available by Manatū Hauora with the principle of
availability in mind:
“that the information shall be made available unless there is good reason for
withholding it”.
As part of the assessment process when publishing information, the following matters are
generally considered against the principle of availability:
• public interest in release
• suitability for publication
• privacy interests
• contractual obligations
• risk of copyright/defamation
• addition of contextual information.
Manatū Hauora regularly assesses the suitability of its OIA responses for publication and
ensured they are frequently made publicly available here
: www.health.govt.nz/about-
ministry/information-releases/responses-official-information-act-requests.
Please supply any minutes, emails, memos etc around the making of this criteria and
decisions to publish or not to publish a response to an OIA on
https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.”
In May 2022, Manatū Hauora adopted a Proactive Release Policy and Guidance that builds on
the commitment to proactive release and provides a framework to ongoing work to enhance the
publication of information. This policy confirms the Ministry’s commitment to the proactive
release of information and outlines its requirements and procedures. A copy of the guidance
document is publicly availabl
e here.
I trust this information fulfils your request. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with
us, including this decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Jan Torres
Manager, OIA Services
Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga
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