Beth
[FYI request #13285 email]
23 July 2020
File No: DOIA 2021 – 0092
Dear Beth,
Thank you for your email on 12 July 2020, requesting the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
Could you please provide the fol owing information regarding your border exemptions: How
many people have entered the country with a Border exemption visa? How many people who
have entered the country with a border exemption visa are now without a visa? How many
Limited visas has Immigration granted for the border criteria so far and why?
Our response
On 14 July 2020 we sought to establish your entitlement to make requests for official information.
We sent you a fol ow up email on 17 July 2020. To date, we have not received a response. We are
not satisfied that you are legal y entitled to make this request and accordingly we are not obligated
to respond.
Please note that the New Zealand border is closed to most travellers with the exception of New
Zealand citizens and residents and people who have a critical purpose to travel to New Zealand and
are granted a border exception to come here. This is to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and
protect the health of people already in New Zealand.
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. Requests for exceptions to
the border restrictions are considered against the strict criteria as 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 Margaret Huang,
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
