Publications and Reports on Pandemics

This page aims to collate key Aotearoa New Zealand publications and reports relating to pandemics in two tables. Both tables aim is to keep an historical record for independent researchers now and in the future.

Table 2: MOH Pandemic Publications
This table contains a list of Ministry of Health (MOH) pandemic publications on the MOH website since 2010.

Table 3: Independent Reviews on the New Zealand Government’s Response to COVID-19
This table contains a list of reports, prepared by independent individuals or bodies.

Note:
* Titles marked with an asterisk indicate the report has been super-ceded and the report is now out of date.
# Titles marked with a hashtag indicate a soft copy of the report cannot be found.

Themes
The events have been grouped by themes. The list of themes are as follows:

  1. Aged residential care
  2. Alert level
  3. Border control [Note: the Trans-Tasman bubble and Pacific bubble are treated as separate themes]
  4. Community outbreak
  5. COVID-19 origins
  6. Elimination
  7. Financial support [Note: this includes the Wage Subsidy Scheme]
  8. Governance
  9. Health Care Services
  10. Māori
  11. Mental Health
  12. National reserve supply [Note: this includes the composition]
  13. Pacific bubble
  14. PPE
  15. Surveillance [Note: refers to MOHs review of the characteristics of the disease and the effectiveness of the response] 
  16. Testing [Note: includes PCR and RAT testing]
  17. Track and tracing
  18. Trans-Tasman bubble
  19. Vaccination
  20. Traffic light

Table 2: MOH Pandemic Publications [ACTIVE]

DateThemeTitle
2022/02Variant updatesCOVID-19 Omicron Update (updated 22 February 2022)
2022/02Variant updatesCOVID-19 Omicron Update (updated 3 February 2022)
2021/12MāoriCOVID-19 Māori Health Protection Plan
2021/11Track and tracingContact Tracing QR Code and NFC Tag Specification
2021/09VaccinationNo evidence that COVID-19 vaccination is associated with increased risk of miscarriage
2021/08NRS Composition Composition of the national reserve supply (updated 13 August 2021 – the third update since January 2020)
2021/08Variant updatesSummary of key information from recent weekly Variants of Concern updates
2021/07Variant updatesIncreased transmission of Delta variant: higher viral load and shorter incubation period
2021/07TreatmentPharmaceutical treatments (therapeutics) for COVID-19 - current evidence and uncertainties
2021/07Variant updatesFleeting contact and the Delta and Kappa variants
2021/06VaccinationEarly evidence for the effectiveness of a third dose among immunocompromised
2021/05Variant updatesShifting thinking on aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2
2021/05VaccinationCOVID-19 vaccines and their effect on viral transmission
2021/04VaccinationMonitoring vaccine safety
2021/04VaccinationEstimated volumes and timing of vaccine rollout
2021/04VaccinationVaccine side effects and reactions
2021/04TestingBorder Workforce Testing Register
2021/03MāoriCOVID-19 Māori Vaccine and Immunisation Plan
2021/03VaccinationAbout vaccines: Efficacy, effectiveness, transmission and immunity
2021/01SurveillanceAotearoa New Zealand’s COVID-19 Surveillance Strategy
2021/01TestingAotearoa New Zealand's COVID-19 Testing Plan
2020/12TestingCOVID-19 Assessment and Testing Data Standard
2020/12Aged Residential CareNew Zealand Aotearoa Pandemic Response Policy for Aged Residential Care
2020/12Mental Health Kia Kaha, Kia Māia, Kia Ora Aotearoa: COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Plan (Revised)

Summary of Feedback Kia Kaha, Kia Māia, Kia Ora Aotearoa: COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Recovery Plan (2020/09)
2020/11PPEPersonal protective equipment use for non-health workers
2020/11PPEFurther guidance on N95 masks for MIQ workers
2020/11Health Care ServicesCOVID-19 disruptions to hospital and general practice activity
2020/10Health Care ServicesCOVID-19 in Health Care and Support Workers in Aotearoa New Zealand
2020/09VaccinationImmunisation Handbook 2020
2020/09PPEPPE Guidelines for Known COVID-19 Cases
2020/09TestingCOVID-19 Messaging Implementation Guide
2020/09NRS Composition and Risk ManagementComposition of the national reserve supply
2020/08NRS Composition*Composition of the national reserve supply (updated 26/08/2020)
2020/07MāoriUpdated COVID-19 Māori Health Response Plan
2020/06Testing*Mid-Term National Testing Strategy: COVID-19 Testing
2020/06Testing*New Zealand's national testing strategy for COVID-19 for June to August 2020
2020/06Health Care ServicesGuidance for the rehabilitation of people with or recovering from COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand
2020/05EliminationCOVID-19: Elimination strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand
2020/05Surveillance*New Zealand’s COVID-19 Surveillance Plan
2020/05Mental Health*Kia Kaha, Kia Māia, Kia Ora Aotearoa: Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Plan
2020/05Track and tracingCOVID-19 Contact Tracing Data Standard
2020/04Health Care ServicesCOVID-19 Health and Disability System Response Plan
2020/04Māori*Initial COVID-19 Māori Response Action Plan
2020/01NRS Composition*Composition of the national reserve supply (updated 28/01/2020)
2017/08General PlanNew Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan
2017/06NRS Composition*Composition of the national reserve supply (updated 20/06/2017)
2013/12National Reserve Supply National Health Emergency Plan: National Reserve Supplies Management and Usage Policies, 3rd edition
2013/12 VaccinationNational Health Emergency Plan H5N1 Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Usage Policy

Table 3: Independent Reviews on the Government's Response to COVID-19 [ACTIVE]

DateThemeTitle
2021/10GovernanceCOVID 19 Public Health Advisory Group feedback letter from Sir David Skegg
2021/09Community outbreakLetter from Sir Brian Roche to Minister Hipkins
2021/09Community outbreakObservations from the Recent Delta Outbreak and their Impact on Reconnecting New Zealanders
2021/08Border controlCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group Minutes
2021/08GovernanceJoint DPMC/MOH response letter to the COVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group
2021/08Border controlCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group - Forward Work Programme
2021/07GovernanceCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group Minutes
2021/07Trans-Tasman bubbleLetter from Sir Brian Roche to Minister Hipkins re feedback on Quarantine Free Travel briefing
2021/07Border controlCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group Minutes
2021/07GovernanceMinister’s letter to Chief Executives
2021/06Community outbreakReview of the Auckland February 2021 COVID-19 Outbreak and New Zealand’s current COVID-19 Outbreak Response Capability
2021/06Community outbreakCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group Minutes
2021/06GovernanceLetter from Sir Brian Roche to Minister Hipkins
2021/06GovernanceCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group Minutes
2021/06Community outbreakCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group: Rapid Review of Auckland February 2021 Outbreak and Future Work Programme (SWC-21-MIN-0103)
2021/06Community outbreakCOVID-19 System response to recommendations from the review report into the February 2021 Auckland Outbreak
2021/06EliminationFuture of the Elimination Strategy — Strategic COVID-19 Public Health Advisory Group's advice to Minister Verrall
2021/05Border controlFurther Advice of Risk Mitigation Measures for Very High Risk Countries - Letter from Strategic COVID-19 Public Health Advisory Group
2021/05Community outbreakLetter from Sir Brian Roche to Minister Hipkins
2021/04Surveillance & TestingProgress against the review of surveillance, testing and contact tracing
2021/04SurveillanceCOVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group (CICRIAG): Feedback on MOH Papers
2021/04Community outbreakMeeting with the COVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group
2021/03GovernanceMinisterial Advisory Group: COVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group (CAB-21-MIN-0055)
2021/[N/A]GovernanceTable of responses to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) and CICRIAG
2020/12VaccinationMore than just a jab: Evaluation of the Māori Influenza vaccination programme as part of the COVID-19 Māori health response
2020/10GovernanceSecond rapid review of the COVID-19 all-of-government response
2020/09Surveillance & Testing Report of Advisory Committee to Oversee the Implementation of the New Zealand COVID-19 Surveillance Plan and Testing Strategy
2020/06Border controlManaged isolation and quarantine review
2020/06Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Management of personal protective equipment in response to Covid-19
2020/05Aged Residential CareIndependent Review of COVID-19 Clusters in Aged Residential Care Facilities
2020/04GovernanceRapid Review of Initial Operating Model and Organisational Arrangements for the National Response to COVID-19
2019Governance Joint External Evaluation of IHR Core Capacities of New Zealand: Mission Report: 26–30 November 2018