31 July 2020
George Morrison
[email address]
File No: DOIA 2021 – 0081
Dear George Morrison,
Thank you for your email on 7 July 2020, requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
Please provide me with all communications and information from members of parliament in
support of visa applications for Mr Andy Wigmore and/or Mr Arron Banks and/or their
associates.
Please also provide me with any information relating to applications to grant Mr Wigmore
and/or Mr Banks and/or their associates with special entry visas or essential service wavers.
Our response
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment can confirm that we have received no
communications relating to the above individuals in support of visa applications. This request has
been refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as this information does not exist.
I can also confirm that there is no record of any request for a border exception under the ‘other
critical worker’ criteria for the individuals you mention, or indeed any other criteria. This request has
also been refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information does not exist.
The bar for being granted an exception to the border restrictions is set high to help stop the spread
of COVID-19 and protect the health of people already in New Zealand. All individual requests for
exceptions to the border restrictions are considered against the strict criteria set out in immigration
instructions.
You have the right to contest the decision to withhold information by seeking an investigation and
review of that decision by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact Lester Deane-Royce,
Business Advisor, Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand
at [email address].
Yours sincerely
Nicola Hogg
General Manager – Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment