30 August 2021
45 Pipitea Street, Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
Nick Sampson
fyi-request-16272-
[email address]
Dear Nick
Official Information Act 1982 request 2122-0095 – Citizenship ceremonies
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 2 August 2021.
You requested –
Please answer the fol owing information about citizenship ceremonies in Auckland:
1. How many citizenship ceremonies have been completed in 2020 and 2021?
2. How many approved applicants attended each of those ceremonies in 2020 and
2021?
3. What is the average, median, minimum, and maximum wait time for approved
applicants in 2020 and 2021? The wait time is the time between the applicant
being informed of their approval of citizenship and the applicant's oath ceremony.
4. How many ceremonies are planned for the rest of 2021?
Please answer the fol owing information about citizenship ceremonies in West Auckland
(Henderson):
5. How many citizenship ceremonies have been completed in 2020 and 2021?
6. How many approved applicants attended each of those ceremonies in 2020 and
2021?
7. What is the average, median, minimum, and maximum wait time for approved
applicants in 2020 and 2021? The wait time is the time between the applicant
being informed of their approval of citizenship and the applicant's oath ceremony.
8. How many ceremonies are planned for the rest of 2021?
Questions one and five
I can advise that 15 citizenship ceremonies took place in 2020 and 22 in the 2021 year to date,
in the Auckland region. In both 2020 and 2021, seven of these ceremonies have taken place in
West Auckland (Henderson).
Questions two, three, six, and seven
Please see Appendix A, attached. Appendix A provides you with a breakdown of the following
information:
• Table one – Breakdown of attendees at citizenship ceremonies in the Auckland region,
for the 2020 and 2021* calendar years
• Table two – Breakdown of wait time for a citizenship ceremony in the Auckland region,
for the 2020 and 2021* calendar years
• Table three – Breakdown of attendees at citizenship ceremonies in the West Auckland,
for the 2020 and 2021* calendar years
• Table four – Breakdown of wait time for a citizenship ceremony in the West Auckland,
for the 2020 and 2021* calendar years.
Questions four and eight
I can advise that local councils set the dates and times for citizenship ceremonies, which is
dependent on having sufficient numbers to meet their minimum requirements. The Department
liaises with councils on the estimated numbers, and the councils wil then set the appropriate
date.
For the remainder of 2021, there are six citizenship ceremonies planned in the Auckland region,
one of which is in West Auckland. However, it is important to note that the current COVID-19
alert level may impact these events, and they will only proceed should the region move to alert
level one. When citizenship ceremonies are cancelled for public health reasons, the requirement
to swear the oath or affirmation of allegiance is waived, and applicants approved for a grant of
New Zealand citizenship receive that grant as at the date of approval. Citizenship certificates are
then mailed to those individuals.
It is also important to explain that a decision was made after the terrorist attacks in Christchurch
not to publish citizenship ceremony dates and times.
If a person has been approved for grant of citizenship, they will be invited to attend the next
available ceremony. Please note that citizenship applicants are allocated to ceremonies in order
of approval. Should they wish to determine when their ceremony may be taking place, they can
email the Department’s ceremonies team directly at [email address].
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, the Department has
decided to proactively release a copy of this response on the DIA website. All requestor data,
including your name and contact details, will be removed prior to release. The released
response will be made available here: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-
Requests-2.
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
freephone 0800 802 602.
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Yours sincerely
Julia Taylor
Manager Operational Policy and Official Correspondence
Service Delivery and Operations
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