Group 2

Develop an all-of-government pandemic response plan that includes:

• a. A statement of the overarching objective of a pandemic response (to be adapted as appropriate depending on the nature of the pandemic).
• b. Roles and responsibilities for delivering an all-of-government pandemic response.
• c. Criteria, thresholds and processes for when an all-of-government response will be triggered, instead of a health-led response.
• d. Key considerations to guide the initial and urgent response, including whether/when to introduce stringent measures that may be required urgently.
• e. Guidance on how to develop and ensure there are pathways and transitions through all stages of the response through to exit.
• f. Mechanisms for communication with different communities (including Māori, Pacific and other ethnic communities, disabled people and other groups with specific communication needs).
• g. Mechanisms for monitoring the social, economic and cultural impacts of a pandemic response, and feeding this back into advice on policy responses.
• h. A statement of how the pandemic response plan will support the Crown to meet its te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
• i. An explanation of how individual sector plans will work together to ensure a comprehensive response.

The central agency function

Update the all-of-government pandemic plan following each national pandemic response exercise (see also Recommendation 1e).

The central agency function with input from other agencies as required

Develop an all-of-government response structure that can be quickly stood up in a pandemic where the lead agency does not have the capacity and capability to coordinate the response. Its functions and capabilities when activated should include:

• a. Leading the all-of-government response.
• b. Coordinating the development of new legislation.
• c. Coordinating the provision of expert advice.
• d. Information systems and processes to support the development of advice to decision-makers (see also Recommendation 11).
• e. Public communication and engagement during the response.
• f. Processes to rapidly review and strengthen key response arrangements to ensure they remain fit for purpose and can be adjusted to changing circumstances, including operational issues.
• g. A separate strategy function that has the capacity to lead high-level planning for different phases of the response, including planning for transition and exit.

The central agency function

Develop a plan to enable the movement of public sector capability and capacity during a pandemic response, including bringing in specific expertise where needed and ensuring that staff can be rotated to reduce the risk of burnout.

Te Kawa Mataaho/Public Service Commission

Prepare guidance and templates for producing advice under urgency that takes account of:

• a. The overarching strategic purpose of the response and the ethics frameworks that will be used to balance different rights, values and impacts in decisions.
• b. The impacts on the wider health system and non-health sectors.
• c. The cumulative impacts of decisions to limit the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 rights and other human rights over time, and how those impacts are assessed.
• d. How long-term implications are considered.
• e. The Crown’s obligations under te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• f. The use of tools such as multi-criteria analysis, value for money, and cost benefit analysis to weigh up the relative costs and benefits of choices in a consistent manner.

The central agency function

Establish processes and accountability mechanisms to protect democratic and human rights during a pandemic response, including:

• a. Enabling cross-party consultation and input, as well as mechanisms that ensure parliamentary scrutiny during a pandemic.
• b. Balancing quick decision-making with transparency, accountability, and maintaining trust and social licence.
• c. Inviting entities with oversight and accountability responsibilities^xiv to develop, after consultation with relevant public sector agencies, processes that will enable them to exercise their functions during a pandemic of extended duration.

• Central government for Recommendations 12a and 12c
• The central agency function on Recommendation 12b