13 Aug 2009

Ryall says no change intended for OIA requests

6:20 am on 13 August 2009

Health Minister Tony Ryall is blaming miscommunication for an apparent difference between the Government and some district health boards over the handling of Official Information Act requests.

DHBs have been told to send copies of all OIA requests to Mr Ryall's office but he says no change to normal practices was intended.

Health boards usually only alert the Government to requests which come from politicians and those that are likely to be contentious.

The DHBs are not commenting but Radio New Zealand understands there is concern about what looks like a broadening of the current practice, with potential privacy implications.

Mr Ryall said through a spokesperson that there has been a miscommunication and he does not expect a copy of every request.