Dear Department of Labour,

I am requesting under the Official Information Act some information about immigration proposals, as I understand that the Department is responsible for providing advice on immigration policy.

According to this news story (http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/new...) the Government last year was working on a policy proposal to deal with "boat people." I would like to request under the Official Information Act all papers, correspondence, emails, memos, proposals, or other information related to plans to deal with "boat people." I am interested in anything that spells out what plans have been put developed, and the background to how these plans where arrived at, including any correspondence with third party agencies, Ministers, or other government departments.

If this request is too broad, then can I please have instead a list of the titles/subjects of the various documents that this request covers,

Yours faithfully,

Joshua Grainger

Dear Chris and Liz,

I would like to ask you to please not transfer my request to the Minister of Immigration. For a start, I asked for all communications between external agencies, including government Ministers, and the Department of Labour. The Minister of Immigration does not possess all the documents and communications between the Department of Labour and external agencies, and thus they won't be able to provide me with this information.

Secondly, given that Departments are usually responsible for developing the details policy, it is my presumption that the Department would hold more information on how the details of any particular policy in a proposal was arrived out, whetheras the Minister would more hold information on how the plan in general was arrived at. I am interested in this more detailed information, as opposed to the broader view that Ministers have.

Of course, if I have been transferred under s14(b)(i), that the Department doesn't hold any relevant information, and it is believed that the Minister does, then consider my objections waived.

Although I am sure you are busy, can I please have a quick response, as if my request is still transferred then I shall be filing a complaint with the Ombudsmen.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Grainger

Dear OIA GEMS,

Thank you very much for your reply.

I was wondering if my request would be confined enough to avoid a charging provision if (in order of preference):

a) If only the titles or subjects or reports, emails, or correspondence was released, so that I could pick and choose those which seem to be most relevant to me.

b) I did not ask for internal emails relating to this subject, only rather internal memos, papers, and other such documents (but including emails with people outside of the Department)

c) If only correspondence with those outside of the Department was included in my request.

I would also ask that if a charge provision was to go ahead that the Department step away from the Ministry of Justice guidelines for charging, given that I would be requesting documents to be scanned, rather than photocopied, and thus there would not be the same cost for materials.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Grainger

Dear OIA GEMS,

On the 4th of May I sent a follow up OIA to you, outlining several options for refining my original request, responding to your response to me on the 1st of May. The deadline for responding to that follow up has now expired, according to the Ombudsmen Calcuator a response was due on Friday. May I please receive an immediate update on the status of my request.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Grainger