20 Aug 2020
Julie Mariuzzo
[FYI request #13394 email]
Ref: DOIA 2021 - 0213
Dear Julie
Thank you for your email of 28 July 2020, requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
1. How many applications from the priority queue and the non-priority queue were allocated
in May, June and July respectively?
2. What is the lodgement date for the oldest SMC application in the non priority queue?
3. What is the lodgement date for the oldest SMC application in the priority queue?
4. What is the lodgement date for the oldest RFW application in the non priority queue?
5. What is the lodgement date for the oldest RFW application in the priority queue?
6. What is the proportion of RFW/SMC applications in each queue?
7. How many residence applications are there in each queue?
8. How many EOIs are there in the pool awaiting selection?
Our response
Please note that the skilled residence applications processed in the Manukau office are made up
of Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and Residence from Work (RFW) applications. They are not
split into two separate queues based on the application category. Once an application is
accepted for processing it is then identified as to whether it meets the prioritisation criteria, or
not, and triaged into either the priority or non-priority queue. Therefore the below data contains
both SMC and RFW categories.
Question 1
How many applications from the priority queue and the non-priority queue were allocated in May,
June and July respectively?
Please refer to the table below. Allocation occurs weekly and the data is for the week beginning
the date quoted. Please note that prior to May 2020 Manukau office did not record the split of
priority and non-priority applications, therefore data is only available from 18 May 2020.
Week beginning
Priority applications
Non-priority
Total
applications
18 May 2020
264
0
264
25 May 2020
0
0
0*
01 June 2020
35
13
48
08 June 2020
40
13
50
15 June 2020
89
10
99
22 June 2020
228
12
240
29 June 2020
197
33
230
06 July 2020
85
18
122
13 July 2020
130
17
154
20 July 2020
129
25
156
27 July 2020
147
50
199
*
only re-allocation occurred, no applications were allocated from queues. Re-allocation occurs
when an application that had been allocated needs to be re-assigned to another immigration
officer due to staff movement.
Question 2
What is the lodgement date for the oldest SMC application in the non priority queue? As of 11 August 2020, the lodgement date for the oldest skilled residence application in the non-
priority queue is 21 December 2018.
Questions 3
What is the lodgement date for the oldest SMC application in the priority queue?
As of 11 August 2020, the lodgement date for the oldest skilled residence application in the
priority queue is 5 June 2020.
Questions 4
What is the lodgement date for the oldest RFW application in the non priority queue?
As explained above, there are no separate queues for SMC and RFW categories. As of 11 August
2020, the lodgement date for the oldest skilled residence application in the non- priority queue is
21 December 2018.
Questions 5
What is the lodgement date for the oldest RFW application in the priority queue As explained above, there are no separate queues for SMC and RFW categories. As of 11 August
2020, the lodgement date for the oldest skilled residence application in the priority queue is 5
June 2020.
Questions 6
What is the proportion of RFW/SMC applications in each queue?
As explained above, the skilled residence applications processed in the Manukau office are made
up of SMC and RFW applications. They are not split into two separate queues based on the
application category.
I am advised that providing the requested information requires substantial collation. It needs
manual validation of 15,011 records to determine the proportion of RFW/SMC applications in
each queue.
I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(f) of the OIA. The information requested
is held on a large number of individual files. To provide you with copies of the information would
require staff to manually review and analyse each application. It would remove Ministry staff
from their core duties and therefore the greater public interest in the effective and efficient
administration of the public service would not be served. I have considered whether the Ministry
would be able to respond to your request given extra time or the ability to charge for the
information requested. I have concluded that, in both cases, the Ministry’s ability to undertake
its work would still be prejudiced.
Questions 7
How many residence applications are there in each queue?
As of 11 August 2020, there are 307 applications in the priority queue and 14,704 applications in
the non-priority queue.
Questions 8
How many EOIs are there in the pool awaiting selection?
As of 15 August 2020, there are 5,386 Expression of Interest (EOI) in the SMC EOI pool.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
free phone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact Dongrui Pang,
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
