November 22, 2021
Data dumped but court case goes on
Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency chief executive John Tamihere says Thursday’s High Court challenge will go ahead despite the Health Ministry releasing most of the data it is seeking.
The agency today received NHI details for 26500 unvaccinated Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Waikato/ Hauraki data has also been released, and all iwi have agreed to having data from their rohe released except for Whanganui, which has already had access from the ministry.
Mr Tamihere says the grounds the data were being withheld was unreasonable, as there are no iwi identifiers in the databases.
He says the agency has received unprecedented support from iwi for its stand, and it feels obliged to proceed with the action because of the resistance it has faced from the Ministry of Health at every stage.
He says the case will have implications for the rest of the vaccine roll out including second doses, boosters and the upcoming campaign for under-12s.