Ref: 2122-0477

 

Dear Matthew,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (the
Ministry) I acknowledge your email of 28^th August 2021 requesting under
the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“1) How many Afghani citizens worked for the NZDF in Afghanistan since the
2001 invasion?

2) How many immediate family members are they estimated to have?

3) Of these people and their families, how many were known or believed to
be in (i) New Zealand (ii) Afghanistan or (iii) somewhere else, as at or
around 1 January 2021?

4) Of these people and their families still in Afghanistan on or around 1
January 2021, how many applied to become New Zealand citizens or residents
in the 2021 calendar year?

5) How many of these applications were accepted, and how many of those
people are now safely in New Zealand

6) How many were accepted but the people are not now safely in New
Zealand? Is it known where they are?

7) How many were rejected, when, why and by whom?”

 

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

 

Due to the current Covid-19 alert level, the Ministry is currently focused
on assisting with the pandemic response and your response may be delayed.
The Ministry will contact you to provide further updates specific to your
request once it has been assessed.

 

If you have any enquiries regarding your request, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [1][MBIE request email].

Nâku noa, nâ

 

Ministerial Services

Corporate, Governance and Information  |   Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

[2]cid:image004.jpg@01D10666.447C6950

 

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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Dear Matthew

Thank you for your email of 28 August 2021 to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (the Ministry) requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA):

1) How many Afghani citizens worked for the NZDF in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion?
2) How many immediate family members are they estimated to have?
3) Of these people and their families, how many were known or believed to be in (i) New Zealand (ii) Afghanistan or (iii) somewhere else, as at or around 1 January 2021?
4) Of these people and their families still in Afghanistan on or around 1 January 2021, how many applied to become New Zealand citizens or residents in the 2021 calendar year?
5) How many of these applications were accepted, and how many of those people are now safely in New Zealand
6) How many were accepted but the people are not now safely in New Zealand? Is it known where they are?
7) How many were rejected, when, why and by whom?

The Ministry has decided to extend the period of time available to respond to your request under Section 15A(1)(b) of the Act as further consultation is required.

You can now expect a response to your request on or before 25 October 2021.

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your request.

Sincerely,

Margee Do
Senior Advisor

Business Management, Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
[email address] |
Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand
NZBN 9429000106078

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Hooton <[FOI #16540 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 28 August 2021 7:05 AM
To: *OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Afghanistan Citizens Who Assisted NZ Defences Forces

Dear MBIE (Immigration NZ)

The wellbeing of Afghani citizens who worked for the New Zealand Defence Forces in their country since 2001, and their immediate families, has become a matter of considerable public attention and interest.

Under the OIA, please advise the following (noting some but not all of this may need to be transferred to other agencies):

1) How many Afghani citizens worked for the NZDF in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion?
2) How many immediate family members are they estimated to have?
3) Of these people and their families, how many were known or believed to be in (i) New Zealand (ii) Afghanistan or (iii) somewhere else, as at or around 1 January 2021?
4) Of these people and their families still in Afghanistan on or around 1 January 2021, how many applied to become New Zealand citizens or residents in the 2021 calendar year?
5) How many of these applications were accepted, and how many of those people are now safely in New Zealand
6) How many were accepted but the people are not now safely in New Zealand? Is it known where they are?
7) How many were rejected, when, why and by whom?

For those who were rejected, please provide all information held by the New Zealand Government, with identifying information redacted so as to protect them from the new Afghani Government and also to comply with the Privacy Act.

Please also take into account that this is a matter of high public interest given the honour of the New Zealand Crown, the New Zealand Defence Forces and the New Zealand people is involved, as well as the operational capability of the New Zealand Defence Forces in future offshore conflicts where the employment or co-operation of local populations is required to achieve military objectives set by the New Zealand Government and approved by the New Zealand Parliament. It is therefore overwhelmingly in the public interest that all relevant information is made public whether it (i) demonstrates New Zealand has acted honourably or (ii) motivates improvements in policies and procedures for the future, in order to enhance the security of New Zealand and promote its wider international interests.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Hooton

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

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Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this message in error and that any use is strictly prohibited. Please contact the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your computer.
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Kia ora Matthew,

 

Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act 1982
(OIA) request sent to us on 28 August 2021.

 

Ngā Mihi,

 

Advisor

Resolutions & Business Management

 

Enablement, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

NZBN 9429000106078

[1]cid:image001.png@01D3CB6D.3E7CDAC0

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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

Any opinions expressed in this message are not necessarily those of the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This message and any
files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the
intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person
responsible for delivery to the intended recipient, be advised that you
have received this message in error and that any use is strictly
prohibited. Please contact the sender and delete the message and any
attachment from your computer.

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