Citizenship processing system and resulting delays

Sebastian made this Official Information request to Department of Internal Affairs

The request was partially successful.

From: Sebastian

Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

Understand that there is a new citizenship processing system that is in place now which is being iteratively developed that is causing delays apart from covid and staff shortages - hence as a kiwi citizen got the following queries :

1. Is the new system good now, if not how much further time will it take to fix the system issues and can the financial costing in tax-dollars on fixing these delays be shared to the tax payers? Any new IT system that increases the processing time 4 times as compared to the older system and cannot be fixed in two years would be a 'disaster' in an ideal IT practice.

2. What plan does the department have to achieve the said 'goal' of processing all backlog by mid-2022 considering the current low rate of turnaround?

3. In some replies - some applications for the months of May-July and Aug-Sept 2021 are being processed as of Feb2022. ref: https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/F...
Can the department please let the people know - what type of applications are those ?

4. Confirming that the data on this page is never updated properly -
https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-cit...
on top of the page it states - "The oldest applications now being assessed were submitted in March 2021." and in the table below it shows pending Jan-Feb 2021 numbers .
Can the precise simple month wise break down be provided on this website -
Month || Paper Unallocated - Paper processed || Online unallocated - Online processed? for next six months?

5. Is the department considering providing applicants a possible month wise ETA for their applications in future?

Expecting a well researched response. Thanks!!

Yours faithfully,
Sebastian

Link to this

From: OIA
Department of Internal Affairs

Tçnâ koe Sebastian,

Thank you for your OIA request to the Department of Internal Affairs (included with this email)

The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and within twenty working days. The 20th working day is 14 March 2022

Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides information that is identified to be of general public interest, the response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs website. If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Nâku, nâ

Michelle Reed (she/her)  
Kaitohutohu Ârahi, te Ture Pârongo Ôkawa | Lead Advisor Official Correspondence 
Te Urûngi | Organisational Strategy & Performance
Level 6, 45 Pipitea St | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand |  www.dia.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Sebastian <[FOI #18550 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 12 February 2022 4:20 PM
To: OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Citizenship processing system and resulting delays

[You don't often get email from [FOI #18550 email]. Learn why this is important at http://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentifica...

Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

Understand that there is a new citizenship processing system that is in place now which is being iteratively developed that is causing delays apart from covid and staff shortages - hence as a kiwi citizen got the following queries :

1. Is the new system good now, if not how much further time will it take to fix the system issues and can the financial costing in tax-dollars on fixing these delays be shared to the tax payers? Any new IT system that increases the processing time 4 times as compared to the older system and cannot be fixed in two years would be a 'disaster' in an ideal IT practice.

2. What plan does the department have to achieve the said 'goal' of processing all backlog by mid-2022 considering the current low rate of turnaround?

3. In some replies - some applications for the months of May-July and Aug-Sept 2021 are being processed as of Feb2022. ref: https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Can the department please let the people know - what type of applications are those ?

4. Confirming that the data on this page is never updated properly -
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
on top of the page it states - "The oldest applications now being assessed were submitted in March 2021." and in the table below it shows pending Jan-Feb 2021 numbers .
Can the precise simple month wise break down be provided on this website - Month || Paper Unallocated - Paper processed || Online unallocated - Online processed? for next six months?

5. Is the department considering providing applicants a possible month wise ETA for their applications in future?

Expecting a well researched response. Thanks!!

Yours faithfully,
Sebastian

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From: SDO Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs


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Attachment OIA 2122 0577 Sebastian via FYI.org response.pdf
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Tēnā koe Sebastian,

 

Please see attached for the letter notifying you of an extension to your
Official Information Act 1982 request.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Louise Walton [1](she/her)

Advisor Official Correspondence

Te Pāhekoheko, Kāwai ki te Iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua | The Department of Internal Affairs

[2]www.dia.govt.nz

[3]Logo-test

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-wo...
2. http://www.dia.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: SDO Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs


Attachment image001.png
19K Download

Attachment image003.png
19K Download


Tēnā koe Sebastian,

 

The previous email indicated that we were extending the timeframe for
response to your request. This was written in error, and I can confirm
that this was the final response to your request, and not an extension.
Apologies for any confusion.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Louise Walton [1](she/her)

Advisor Official Correspondence

Te Pāhekoheko, Kāwai ki te Iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua | The Department of Internal Affairs

[2]www.dia.govt.nz

[3]Logo-test

 

From: SDO Official Correspondence
Sent: Monday, 14 March 2022 12:30 PM
To: [FOI #18550 email]
Cc: SDO Official Correspondence <[email address]>; OIA
<[email address]>
Subject: Official Information Act 1982 request

 

Tēnā koe Sebastian,

 

Please see attached for the letter notifying you of an extension to your
Official Information Act 1982 request.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Louise Walton [4](she/her)

Advisor Official Correspondence

Te Pāhekoheko, Kāwai ki te Iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua | The Department of Internal Affairs

[5]www.dia.govt.nz

[6]Logo-test

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-wo...
2. http://www.dia.govt.nz/
4. https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-wo...
5. http://www.dia.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Sebastian

Dear SDO Official Correspondence,

I have gone through your response/s which unfortunately remains same since last 2 years so still have the following queries -

1. You said - 'We expect that the time it takes for staff to process applications in our new online system will reduce as they become more familiar with it.' When will this familiarity phase end and actual work begin?
Its a CAPITAL DISGRACE now that processing timeframe remains over 15 months - even after 2 years.

2. What is the problem for the department/governments to provide data in this format on its website rather than putting misleading numbers on it??
Month || Paper Unallocated - Paper processed - paper approved|| Online unallocated - Online processed - Online approved
Please undertake to provide these numbers so that people understand where their application are?

3. Do you consider that holding 300K+ pending applications as 'hostages' as an achievement of this current government?
What is the processing timeframe reduction that the department is currently targeting for - I mean by which month are you planning to get the old timeframe of 3 to 5 months restored (You must have such a plan now even after 2 long years)?

Yours sincerely,

Sebastian

Link to this

From: OIA
Department of Internal Affairs

Tçnâ koe Sebastian,

Thank you for your OIA request to the Department of Internal Affairs (included with this email)

The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and within twenty working days. The 20th working day is 11 April 2022

Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides information that is identified to be of general public interest, the response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs website. If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Nâku, nâ

Michelle Reed (she/her)  
Kaitohutohu Ârahi, te Ture Pârongo Ôkawa | Lead Advisor Official Correspondence 
Te Urûngi | Organisational Strategy & Performance
Level 6, 45 Pipitea St | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand |  www.dia.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Sebastian <[FOI #18550 email]>
Sent: Monday, 14 March 2022 4:30 PM
To: SDO Official Correspondence <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information Act 1982 request

Dear SDO Official Correspondence,

I have gone through your response/s which unfortunately remains same since last 2 years so still have the following queries -

1. You said - 'We expect that the time it takes for staff to process applications in our new online system will reduce as they become more familiar with it.' When will this familiarity phase end and actual work begin?
Its a CAPITAL DISGRACE now that processing timeframe remains over 15 months - even after 2 years.

2. What is the problem for the department/governments to provide data in this format on its website rather than putting misleading numbers on it??
Month || Paper Unallocated - Paper processed - paper approved|| Online unallocated - Online processed - Online approved Please undertake to provide these numbers so that people understand where their application are?

3. Do you consider that holding 300K+ pending applications as 'hostages' as an achievement of this current government?
What is the processing timeframe reduction that the department is currently targeting for - I mean by which month are you planning to get the old timeframe of 3 to 5 months restored (You must have such a plan now even after 2 long years)?

Yours sincerely,

Sebastian

-----Original Message-----

Tçnâ koe Sebastian,

 

Please see attached for the letter notifying you of an extension to your Official Information Act 1982 request.

 

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

Louise Walton [1](she/her)

Advisor Official Correspondence

Te Pâhekoheko, Kâwai ki te Iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and Operations Te Tari Taiwhenua | The Department of Internal Affairs

[2]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

[3]Logo-test

 

References

Visible links
1. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
2. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #18550 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

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

hide quoted sections

Link to this

From: SDO Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs


Attachment image003.png
16K Download

Attachment OIA 2122 0628 Sebastian via FYI.org response.pdf
215K Download View as HTML


Tēnā koe Sebastian,

 

Please see attached for the response to your Official Information Act 1982
request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Louise Walton [1](she/her)

Advisor Official Correspondence

Te Pāhekoheko, Kāwai ki te Iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua | The Department of Internal Affairs

[2]www.dia.govt.nz

[3]Logo-test

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-wo...
2. http://www.dia.govt.nz/

Link to this

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