9. Question No. 9—COVID-19 ResponseCHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 9—COVID-19 Response9. CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: On what date did the Ministry of Health sign a contract with MATTR to develop a vaccination pass for domestic use and is he satisfied with progress in the development of a domestic vaccine pass?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Work began to establish My Health Account and My COVID Record in April 2021. I'm advised that a standard tender process was followed for the work to put the certificate part of that system in place. That commenced in July. A request for proposals was released on 9 July to seven suppliers. The Ministry of Health standard procurement process was then followed. The evaluation panel recommendation was approved on 15 September and the contract was signed on 13 October. In answer to the second part of the question yes. Like all matters related to COVID-19 the Government's taken a measured and considered approach to ensure that New Zealand's got access to reliable and safe technology to protect ourselves from COVID-19 both domestically and around the world.Chris Bishop: So just for clarity can he confirm to the House that the contract for the development of the vaccination pass was only signed by the Government a month ago?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes for the very last part of the process which is the actual downloadable certificate part of the process. But as I indicated what sits behind that which is people's vaccination records and the ability to access their vaccination records the work on that began in April.Chris Bishop: What is the explanation if there is one as to why it took until October 2021 for the very final part of the vaccine certificate process to be contracted for development?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I indicated the tender part of that process started back in July and given the member who has just resumed her seat has criticised the Ministry of Health in the past for not following tender processes for IT-related projects I'm sure he would support there being a full tender process.Chris Bishop: Did any of the health advice that was provided in the lead up to yesterday's Cabinet meeting make any reference to the fact that My Vaccine Pass is still in the final stages of development and did this inform decisions not to move Auckland to the COVID protection framework earlier than later?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'm very confident that the vaccine certificates will be available when we move to the protection framework.Chris Bishop: Point of order. Mr Speaker that wasn't actually the question. It was: Did any of the health advice for yesterday's Cabinet meeting make any reference to the fact that My Vaccine was still in the final stages of development?"Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Speaking to that point of order Mr Speaker I addressed the last part of the member's question. It had multiple prongs to it and I addressed the second one.SPEAKER: That's the rules—you have multiple legs; you only have to answer one.Chris Bishop: Can he confirm that the decision to keep Auckland at the current alert level 3 step 2 setting and not move the region to the COVID protection framework has nothing to do with the fact that My Vaccine Pass is not available to Aucklanders and in fact New Zealanders today?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I think the question somewhat contradicts itself but the fact that the certificates are not yet available to download is not a factor in the current situation in Auckland."