All directives, instructions, guidance documents, emails, memoranda, or internal communications issued or received by Te Whatu Ora between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023 relating to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health sector workers, including midwives, nurses, doctors, and maternity staff.

Kia ora,

Thank you for your correspondence advising that my Official Information Act 1982 request dated 11 January 2026 has been transferred to Te Whatu Ora under section 14 of the Act.

I acknowledge receipt of this notice.

For clarity and record purposes, please note:

1. The request was lawfully made on 11 January 2026, and the statutory timeframe under the Official Information Act runs from that date.
2. The transfer does not reset or extend the statutory response period.
3. The scope of the request remains exactly as set out in the original correspondence.
4. The request seeks records, communications, and process documentation only, and does not assert conclusions.
5. If any information is withheld, I expect the specific OIA withholding grounds relied upon to be clearly identified.

I will await further correspondence directly from Te Whatu Ora.

Ngā mihi,

Tracy Lynch

On Jan 20, 2026 at 4:06 PM, <OIA> wrote:
Kia ora Tracey,

Upon review of this OIA request, we have determined that we do not hold the relevant information, and will be transferring the request to Te Whatu Ora. Please see our attached letter for more information.

Ngâ mihi nui,

OIA Requests

 

Health Research Council of New Zealand Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa PO Box 5541, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142, New Zealand Email: [email protected] | www.hrc.govt.nz Twitter: twitter.com/hrcnewzealand

From: F Q <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, 11 January 2026 12:45 pm
To: OIA <[email protected]>
Cc: 105 <[email protected]>; Private Trust <[email protected]>; Records <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: OIA

 

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OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982 REQUEST

 

To: Official Information Act Requests

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand

New Zealand

Dated today

Request under the Official Information Act 1982

Greetings,

This request is made under the Official Information Act 1982.

The purpose of this request is to obtain information relating to Te Whatu Ora’s role in implementing, enforcing, or administering COVID-19 vaccination requirements within the health sector, and to identify any involvement, influence, or interference by external legal bodies, including the New Zealand Law Society, in relation to those requirements.

This request seeks records and process documentation only and does not assert conclusions.

Vaccination policy implementation

1.1 All directives, instructions, guidance documents, emails, memoranda, or internal communications issued or received by Te Whatu Ora between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023 relating to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health sector workers, including midwives, nurses, doctors, and maternity staff.

1.2 All documents describing how vaccination requirements were operationalised, enforced, or monitored within Te Whatu Ora services, including consequences for non-compliance.

Employment, remuneration, and workforce actions

2.1 All documents relating to suspension, removal, stand-down, or cessation of remuneration of health workers arising from COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

2.2 Any guidance or advice relied upon by Te Whatu Ora concerning the lawfulness of ceasing remuneration without formal termination.

Awareness of voluntariness and legal status

3.1 All communications, advice, or briefing material held by Te Whatu Ora referencing COVID-19 vaccination as voluntary, optional, or non-mandatory.

3.2 Any internal discussion or risk assessment considering the implications of enforcing employment consequences where vaccination was described as voluntary.

Reporting of adverse outcomes and service impacts

4.1 All reports, notifications, or communications received by Te Whatu Ora from professional bodies, clinicians, midwives, or members of the public relating to pregnancy outcomes, maternity concerns, or placental observations during the COVID-19 response period.

4.2 All assessments of maternity service capacity, workforce shortages, or service disruption between 2021 and 2023.

External legal advice and Law Society involvement

5.1 All communications between Te Whatu Ora and the New Zealand Law Society between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023 relating to COVID-19 vaccination policy, workforce enforcement, professional conduct, or regulatory response.

5.2 Any guidance, advice, commentary, or position statements provided by or attributed to the New Zealand Law Society that were relied upon by Te Whatu Ora in forming, justifying, or defending vaccination-related workforce actions.

5.3 Any discussions concerning the management of legal risk, litigation exposure, judicial review, or consistency of legal messaging across Crown agencies relating to COVID-19 vaccination enforcement.

Coordination with other agencies

6.1 All communications between Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health, Treasury, Crown Law, or professional regulators relating to vaccination enforcement, workforce impacts, or legal risk management.

If any information is withheld, please specify the grounds relied upon under the Official Information Act 1982, including the relevant section(s) of the Act.

Please provide the requested information in electronic form.

Thank you.

By:

Tracy Lynch