Ref: 2021-0010

 

Dear J Smith,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 1 July 2020 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

In the past 15 years, how many citizens of the People's Republic of China
who were previously members of the following organisations, at or above a
rank equivalent to  NATO code OF-4 have been awarded temporary or
permanent residency or citizenship in New Zealand.

 

People's Liberation Army, including

People's Liberation Army Ground Force

People's Liberation Army Air Force

People's Liberation Army Navy

People's Liberation Army Rocket Force

People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force any and all associated
People's Liberation Army training facilities and colleges

 

People's Armed Police Force

 

Chinese People's Armed Police Coast Guard Corps

 

People's Police of the People's Republic of China

 

Ministry of Public Safety

 

Ministry of State Security

 

Hong Kong Police Force

 

Macau Security Force

 

any and all relevant,  training and educational facilities associated with
these organisations.

 

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

 

Please note, due to ongoing COVID-19 response work, requests are currently
being triaged and those relating to Covid-19 processed as a priority.
Remaining requests are being assessed as per the Ombudsman’s guidance
(which can be found here:
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/chief-ombudsmans-statement-official-information-response-times-during-covid-19-emergency)
and processed accordingly.

 

If you have any enquiries regarding your request, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [2][MBIE request email].

 

Nâku noa, nâ

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

 

Corporate, Governance and Information

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/...
2. mailto:[MBIE request email]
3. http://www.govt.nz/

Hi J Smith,

 

We have received your request for official information on 1 July 2020 for
the following information:

 

“In the past 15 years, how many citizens of the People's Republic of China
who were previously members of the following organisations, at or above a
rank equivalent to  NATO code OF-4 have been awarded temporary or
permanent residency or citizenship in New Zealand.

People's Liberation Army, including

People's Liberation Army Ground Force

People's Liberation Army Air Force

People's Liberation Army Navy

People's Liberation Army Rocket Force

People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force any and all associated
People's Liberation Army training facilities and colleges

People's Armed Police Force

Chinese People's Armed Police Coast Guard Corps

People's Police of the People's Republic of China

Ministry of Public Safety

Ministry of State Security

Hong Kong Police Force

Macau Security Force

any and all relevant,  training and educational facilities associated with
these organisations.”

 

Under the Official Information Act 1982  requests can only be made by;

Any person, being-

(a)          a New Zealand citizen; or

(b)          a permanent resident of New Zealand; or

(c)           a person who is in New Zealand; or

(d)          a body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

(e)          A body corporate which is incorporated outside of new Zealand
but which has a place of business in New Zealand,

may request a department or Minister of the Crown or organisation to make
available to him or it any specified official information.

From the information you have provided in your request it is unclear that
you are eligible to make an Official Information Act request.

Before we can proceed with your request you will need to provide evidence
that you are eligible to make a request.  Any supporting information can
be provided confidentially to me via email which is shown in the attached
file.

If you have not provided suitable evidence within 3 working days your
request will be withdrawn and closed on the basis that you are not
eligible to make a request.

 

 

Kind Regards,

Lautalie Leausa Vaa
SENIOR BUSINESS ADVISOR

Operations Support, Visa Services, Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1][email address] |
Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

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Hi J Smith,

 

Thank you for your email. We have received the email with reference to
your New Zealand passport number, thank you for sending that in.

 

We now invite you to clarify, re-scope or narrow your request.

 

As it stands it is likely that the Ministry may refuse your request under
section 18(e) of the OIA because this level of information is not held in
reportable format. While we are able to provide the number of nationals
from People's Republic of China who have been granted temporary or
permanent residency in New Zealand during a certain period, we would not
be able to obtain information on whether they were previously members of
the organisations you have listed, at or above a rank equivalent to NATO
code OF-4. This level of information is not held in a reportable format
and to potentially obtain this information would require a manual search
of each individual application file to determine if they fall within scope
of your request. It is therefore likely that depending on the number of
nationals, the Ministry may also refuse your request under section 18(f)
because the information requested cannot be made available without
substantial collation or research.

 

Please provide a response by clarifying, re-scoping or narrowing your
request.

 

If you have any questions please let me know.

 

 

Kind Regards,

Lautalie Leausa Vaa
SENIOR BUSINESS ADVISOR

Operations Support, Visa Services, Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1][email address] | Telephone: +64 (0)4  896 5342
Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

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Dear J Smith,

 

Please see attached INZ’s response to your OIA request reference: DOIA
2021-0010.

 

 

Kind Regards,

Lautalie Leausa Vaa
SENIOR BUSINESS ADVISOR

Operations Support, Visa Services, Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1][email address] | Telephone: +64 (0)4  896 5342
Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.govt.nz/