Kia ora,

On behalf of Hon Kris Faafoi, thank you for your email. 

While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important, and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not always possible to
personally reply to all emails.  As such, the following guidelines apply:

·         Invitations and meeting requests will be processed as soon as
possible and a staff member will be in contact with you in due course

·         All media queries will be responded to by a staff member

·         Requests for official information will be managed in accordance
with the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982, which may
include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency

·         If your email falls outside of the Minister’s portfolio
responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple
Members of Parliament, then your opinion will be noted and your
correspondence may be transferred to another office, or there may be no
further response to you

·         If your correspondence is to the Minister as the Member of
Parliament for Mana, this will be referred to his electorate office

Thank you for the taking the time to write.

Nga mihi,

Office of Hon Kris Faafoi

Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media,
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Digital
Services,
Associate Minister of Housing

Bowen House | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 |
New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Kris Faafoi MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kia ora,

On behalf of Hon Kris Faafoi, thank you for your email.

Due to the high volume of enquiries at this time, we will be triaging
issues related to COVID-19 in the first instance.

We appreciate your patience at this time and will get back to you as soon
as we can.

Nga mihi,

Office of Hon Kris Faafoi

Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media,
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Minister of Government Digital
Services,
Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)

Bowen House | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 |
New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Kris Faafoi MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kia Ora Azaria Bialik,

 

Re: OIA20-061 Azaria Bialik,

 

We acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated 27 July
2020 for:

 

·         As known the Parent Resident Visa was closed in October 2016 and
no EOI were selected from the pool since then even though the category was
officially reopened on 24 February 2020. Many applicants in their twilight
years have been placed in limbo waiting for at least 4 years now to be
assessed. Lately the applicants were asked to update their applications.
Based on your records could you provide the number of applicants that are
known to pass away while waiting for their EOI to be selected from the
pool?

·         According to the INZ website Parent Resident Visa selections of
EOI were suspended due to COVID-19. Would it be possible to elaborate on
how the pandemic is effecting the ability to select and assess EOI
applications?

·         Is there a clear criteria for when EOI selection from the pool
can start for this category?

·         Is there an intention to meet the 1000 quota stated for this
visa for the year 2020?

 

We received your request on 28 July 2020. We will endeavour to respond to
your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 25 August
2020, being 20 working days after the day your request was received.

 

If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe. If your OIA request requires full or part
transfer, we will contact you within the required timeframe.

 

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Naomi Siania |Private Secretary (Executive Support)| Office of Hon Kris
Faafoi MP

Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Minister of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs,

Minister of Government Digital Services, Associate Minister of Housing
(Public Housing)

Minister of Immigration.

Bowen House | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 |
New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Kris Faafoi MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

Email disclaimer:

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

Please note that any acceptance of an invitation is conditional upon leave
being granted.

 

This email communication is confidential between the sender and the
recipient. The intended recipient may not distribute it without the
permission of the sender. If this email is received in error, it remains
confidential and you may not copy, retain or distribute it in any manner.
Please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of the message
and all attachments. Thank you.

 

 

show quoted sections

Kia Ora Azaria Bialik,

 

I write in reference to your Official Information Act request, received on
the 27 July 2020 for the following information;

 

·         As known the Parent Resident Visa was closed in October 2016 and
no EOI were selected from the pool since then even though the category was
officially reopened on 24 February 2020. Many applicants in their twilight
years have been placed in limbo waiting for at least 4 years now to be
assessed. Lately the applicants were asked to update their applications.
Based on your records could you provide the number of applicants that are
known to pass away while waiting for their EOI to be selected from the
pool?

·         According to the INZ website Parent Resident Visa selections of
EOI were suspended due to COVID-19. Would it be possible to elaborate on
how the pandemic is effecting the ability to select and assess EOI
applications?

·         Is there a clear criteria for when EOI selection from the pool
can start for this category?

·         Is there an intention to meet the 1000 quota stated for this
visa for the year 2020?

 

I have transferred your request to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), because
the information that you request is believed to be more closely connected
with the functions of the department.  In these circumstances, we are
required by section 14 of the Official Information Act to transfer your
request.

 

You can expect to have a response to your request from them in due course.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

 

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Naomi Siania |Private Secretary (Executive Support)| Office of Hon Kris
Faafoi MP

Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Minister of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs,

Minister of Government Digital Services, Associate Minister of Housing
(Public Housing)

Minister of Immigration.

Bowen House | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 |
New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Kris Faafoi MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

Email disclaimer:

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[1]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

Please note that any acceptance of an invitation is conditional upon leave
being granted.

 

This email communication is confidential between the sender and the
recipient. The intended recipient may not distribute it without the
permission of the sender. If this email is received in error, it remains
confidential and you may not copy, retain or distribute it in any manner.
Please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of the message
and all attachments. Thank you.

 

From: Naomi Siania On Behalf Of K Faafoi (MIN)
Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2020 8:31 AM
To: 'Azaria Bialik' <[FOI #13391 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Parent Resident Visa EOI
selection -OIA20-061

 

Kia Ora Azaria Bialik,

 

Re: OIA20-061 Azaria Bialik,

 

We acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated 27 July
2020 for:

 

·         As known the Parent Resident Visa was closed in October 2016 and
no EOI were selected from the pool since then even though the category was
officially reopened on 24 February 2020. Many applicants in their twilight
years have been placed in limbo waiting for at least 4 years now to be
assessed. Lately the applicants were asked to update their applications.
Based on your records could you provide the number of applicants that are
known to pass away while waiting for their EOI to be selected from the
pool?

·         According to the INZ website Parent Resident Visa selections of
EOI were suspended due to COVID-19. Would it be possible to elaborate on
how the pandemic is effecting the ability to select and assess EOI
applications?

·         Is there a clear criteria for when EOI selection from the pool
can start for this category?

·         Is there an intention to meet the 1000 quota stated for this
visa for the year 2020?

 

We received your request on 28 July 2020. We will endeavour to respond to
your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 25 August
2020, being 20 working days after the day your request was received.

 

If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe. If your OIA request requires full or part
transfer, we will contact you within the required timeframe.

 

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Naomi Siania |Private Secretary (Executive Support)| Office of Hon Kris
Faafoi MP

Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Minister of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs,

Minister of Government Digital Services, Associate Minister of Housing
(Public Housing)

Minister of Immigration.

Bowen House | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 |
New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Kris Faafoi MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

Email disclaimer:

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

Please note that any acceptance of an invitation is conditional upon leave
being granted.

 

This email communication is confidential between the sender and the
recipient. The intended recipient may not distribute it without the
permission of the sender. If this email is received in error, it remains
confidential and you may not copy, retain or distribute it in any manner.
Please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of the message
and all attachments. Thank you.

 

 

show quoted sections

Ref: 2021-0219

 

Dear Azaria,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 27 July 2020 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

Considering the uncertainty surrounding the Parent Resident Visa category
could you please provide the following information:

 

1. As known the Parent Resident Visa was closed in October 2016 and no EOI
were selected from the pool since then even though the category was
officially reopened on 24 February 2020. Many applicants in their twilight
years have been placed in limbo waiting for at least 4 years now to be
assessed. Lately the applicants were asked to update their applications.
Based on your records could you provide the number of applicants that are
known to pass away while waiting for their EOI to be selected from the
pool?

 

2. According to the INZ website Parent Resident Visa selections of EOI
were suspended due to COVID-19. Would it be possible to elaborate on how
the pandemic is effecting the ability to select and assess EOI
applications?

 

3. Is there a clear criteria for when EOI selection from the pool can
start for this category?

 

4. Is there an intention to meet the 1000 quota stated for this visa for
the year 2020?

 

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][email address].

 

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

show quoted sections

References

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

Dear Azaria

 

Please find attached response to your information request.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Margee Do

Senior Advisor

 

Business Management, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1][email address] | 021 853 029

Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

[2]Values email graphic

 

From: Naomi Siania <[email address]> On Behalf Of K Faafoi
(MIN)
Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2020 3:59 PM
To: 'Azaria Bialik' <[FOI #13391 email]>
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Parent Resident Visa EOI
selection -OIA20-061

 

Kia Ora Azaria Bialik,

 

I write in reference to your Official Information Act request, received on
the 27 July 2020 for the following information;

 

·       As known the Parent Resident Visa was closed in October 2016 and
no EOI were selected from the pool since then even though the category was
officially reopened on 24 February 2020. Many applicants in their twilight
years have been placed in limbo waiting for at least 4 years now to be
assessed. Lately the applicants were asked to update their applications.
Based on your records could you provide the number of applicants that are
known to pass away while waiting for their EOI to be selected from the
pool?

·       According to the INZ website Parent Resident Visa selections of
EOI were suspended due to COVID-19. Would it be possible to elaborate on
how the pandemic is effecting the ability to select and assess EOI
applications?

·       Is there a clear criteria for when EOI selection from the pool can
start for this category?

·       Is there an intention to meet the 1000 quota stated for this visa
for the year 2020?

 

I have transferred your request to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), because
the information that you request is believed to be more closely connected
with the functions of the department. In these circumstances, we are
required by section 14 of the Official Information Act to transfer your
request.

 

You can expect to have a response to your request from them in due course.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

 

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Naomi Siania |Private Secretary (Executive Support)| Office of Hon Kris
Faafoi MP

Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Minister of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs,

Minister of Government Digital Services, Associate Minister of Housing
(Public Housing)

Minister of Immigration.

Bowen House | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 |
New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Kris Faafoi MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

Email disclaimer:

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[3]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

Please note that any acceptance of an invitation is conditional upon leave
being granted.

 

This email communication is confidential between the sender and the
recipient. The intended recipient may not distribute it without the
permission of the sender. If this email is received in error, it remains
confidential and you may not copy, retain or distribute it in any manner.
Please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of the message
and all attachments. Thank you.

 

From: Naomi Siania On Behalf Of K Faafoi (MIN)
Sent: Tuesday, 28 July 2020 8:31 AM
To: 'Azaria Bialik' <[4][FOI #13391 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Parent Resident Visa EOI
selection -OIA20-061

 

Kia Ora Azaria Bialik,

 

Re: OIA20-061 Azaria Bialik,

 

We acknowledge receipt of your official information request dated 27 July
2020 for:

 

·       As known the Parent Resident Visa was closed in October 2016 and
no EOI were selected from the pool since then even though the category was
officially reopened on 24 February 2020. Many applicants in their twilight
years have been placed in limbo waiting for at least 4 years now to be
assessed. Lately the applicants were asked to update their applications.
Based on your records could you provide the number of applicants that are
known to pass away while waiting for their EOI to be selected from the
pool?

·       According to the INZ website Parent Resident Visa selections of
EOI were suspended due to COVID-19. Would it be possible to elaborate on
how the pandemic is effecting the ability to select and assess EOI
applications?

·       Is there a clear criteria for when EOI selection from the pool can
start for this category?

·       Is there an intention to meet the 1000 quota stated for this visa
for the year 2020?

 

We received your request on 28 July 2020. We will endeavour to respond to
your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 25 August
2020, being 20 working days after the day your request was received.

 

If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of
an extension of that timeframe. If your OIA request requires full or part
transfer, we will contact you within the required timeframe.

 

Ngā mihi nui,

 

Naomi Siania |Private Secretary (Executive Support)| Office of Hon Kris
Faafoi MP

Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Minister of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs,

Minister of Government Digital Services, Associate Minister of Housing
(Public Housing)

Minister of Immigration.

Bowen House | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 |
New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Kris Faafoi MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

 

Email disclaimer:

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[5]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

Please note that any acceptance of an invitation is conditional upon leave
being granted.

 

This email communication is confidential between the sender and the
recipient. The intended recipient may not distribute it without the
permission of the sender. If this email is received in error, it remains
confidential and you may not copy, retain or distribute it in any manner.
Please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of the message
and all attachments. Thank you.

 

 

show quoted sections