20 October 2021
Ref: DOIA 2122-0692
Adam Irish
Email:
[FYI request #16839 email]
Dear Adam
Thank you for your email of 22 September 2021 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(the Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
I request under the Official Information Act on what basis is the justification for not prioritising
New Zealand Citizens over New Zealand Residents and New Zealand Permanent Residence in the
spaces in MIQ and returning to New Zealand. Does not New Zealand under Human rights and UN
conventions have an immediate obligation to its own citizens first and over that of other
nationals. Why are New Zealand residents and permanent residents being allowed to compete
and as a consequent crowd out and disadvantage New Zealand Citizens with regards to having a
place in MIQ and the ability to return to New Zealand.
Additionally I request the rational why New Zealand Citizens and Permanent residents based in
Australian where reincluded in the last MIQ allocation. New Zealand Citizens in countries outside
of Australia have immediate visa requirements that they can risk breaching if they cannot return
to New Zealand which citizens of other countries do not have. This risk does not apply to New
Zealand Citizens in Australia due to our Special Category Status which allows permanent stays
their.
Lastly I request does MBIE and the government have a strategy to have sufficient MIQ places to
deal with the demand shown in the last MIQ allocation. And what is the timeframe that they
expect to address this backlog by.
I am writing to notify you the Ministry is extending the timeframe for responding to your request under
section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, as the consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such
that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
We are experiencing a large volume of Official Information Act requests, and additionally we entered a
period with the COVID-19 lockdowns that affected normal business systems. This necessitated subject
matter experts within the organisation prioritising work most closely relating to the delivery/support of
Managed Isolation and Quarantine facilities and the community outbreak, which is ongoing.
As such, an extension is necessary to complete consultations with all relevant parties. We will now
respond to your request on or before 26 November 2021, however we will endeavour to respond to you
sooner.
DOIA 2122-0692
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is availab
le at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Yours sincerely
Jacquiline Cooke
Team Leader, Ministerial Services
Managed Isolation and Quarantine
