20 July 2020
Nick Farlow
[FYI request #13149 email]
File No: DOIA 1920 – 1810
Dear Nick Farlow
Thank you for your email of 25 June 2020, requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
There is much talk at present about "bringing NZers home from
overseas". This implies presumably that those individuals left prior to NZ's borders being 'closed'.I note
that travel overseas is not necessarily prohibited though advised against. Please advise how many
people are or have been in compulsory quarantine, where those people also left NZ during the
quarantine period. (e.g had initially left NZ after 20 March 2020 and subsequently returned)
We contacted you by email on 29 June 2020 requesting that you provide clarification on your request.
To date we have not received a response from you. We are therefore interpreting your request as:
The number of New Zealanders (New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders) who departed
New Zealand on or after 20 March 2020 and have since returned, and have been held in mandatory
isolation or quarantine facilities upon their return.
I am writing to advise you that the Ministry wil provide a response but needs to extend the time
available to answer your request. The Ministry’s response will be with you no later than 27 August
2020. The reason for the extension relies on:
• S15A (1) (b) of the OIA – consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such
that a proper response to the request cannot be made within the original time limit.
I will respond to your request sooner if I am able to.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of our decision to extend the time limit by the
Ombudsman at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz, free-phone 0800 802 602 or post to the fol owing
address: The Ombudsman, Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10-152, WELLINGTON 6143
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request, please contact Charmaine Ho at
[email address]
Yours sincerely
Jock Gilray
National Manager – Border & Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
