Group 1

Establish a central agency function to coordinate all-of-government preparedness to respond to pandemics (and other national risks). The function should:

• a. Develop, monitor and produce reports on the National Risk Register (see also Recommendation 5a).
• b. Support the Chief Executives Group (see also Recommendation 4) to oversee a cross-agency work programme to prepare for and respond to pandemics.
• c. Coordinate the development of a range of pandemic scenarios to guide preparedness and response planning (see also Recommendation 2).
• d. Develop an all-of-government response plan (see also Recommendation 7) and lead associated preparatory work.
• e. Coordinate national pandemic response exercises at least once every three years and report on those exercises to the Chief Executives Group and ministers.

Central government

Ensure the central agency function has access to appropriate scenario planning and modelling capability to support pandemic preparedness and response. That capability should:

• a. Be drawn from public sector agencies, non-government institutions and the international community.
• b. Include health, economic and social modelling to allow for the interaction of these components.
• c. Determine the data and monitoring systems that are needed over the longer term.
• d. Be able to be surged during a pandemic response.

Central government

Establish a pandemic expert advisory group, including expertise from both the public and non-government sectors, to support pandemic preparedness and provide strategic advice during a pandemic response.

The central agency function, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies

To strengthen oversight and accountability for public sector agencies’ preparedness for pandemics (and other national risks):

• a. Establish a Chief Executives Group to have strategic oversight of national preparedness for pandemics (and other national risks) and associated cross-agency work, including the development and delivery of a work programme to address gaps in preparedness.
• b. Create an oversight mechanism such as a Cabinet Committee or Ministerial Group chaired by a senior minister to proactively review national preparedness for pandemics (and other national risks) and oversee a work programme to address gaps in preparedness.
• c. Require the Chief Executives Group to regularly update the Cabinet Committee or Ministerial Group on the extent of preparedness.
• d. Invite Parliament to establish a mechanism to proactively review national preparedness for pandemics and other national risks, on a regular basis.
• e. Set expectations for pandemic preparedness via public service chief executive performance agreements, and via Ministerial direction to Crown entities, including a requirement to work collectively on preparedness.
• f. Invite the Office of the Auditor-General to establish a review and a public reporting programme on the public sector’s readiness to respond to pandemics (and potentially other national risks), that includes how they would deliver business-as-usual activity during a pandemic of extended duration.

• Central government
• Te Kawa Mataaho/Public Service Commission for part of Recommendation 4e

To ensure public transparency:

• a. Publish the National Risk Register and report on actions being taken to address risks, every three years.
• b. Require public sector agencies to include an assessment of pandemic preparedness in their annual reports.

Central government

Provide advice on options for sustainably funding the necessary preparation activities and associated systems improvements, as outlined in the recommendations in this report.

The Treasury