2022 Ski Industry Workers Border Exemptions and Visas

S G Reid made this Official Information request to Michael Wood

The request is waiting for clarification. If you are S G Reid, please sign in to send a follow up message.

From: S G Reid

Dear Michael Wood,

Dear Stuart Nash,

I am a New Zealand citizen and make this request under the Official Information Act.

I anticipate that this information may be held by multiple agencies. As such I have made this request to the following agencies & ministers:

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Immigration NZ
The office of Tourism Minister Stuart Nash

Please provide the following information as at Monday 10 October:

1. All information relating to the granting of exemptions to the border rules for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season.
Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and documentation regarding :
a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an exemption
b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work for those granted an exemption
c. any other conditions agreed to in order for the exemptions to be granted

All information relating to the granting of critical purpose visas and subsequent granting of work rights for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season.
Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and documentation regarding:
a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an exemption
b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work for those granted an exemption
c. any other conditions agreed to in order for the exemptions to be granted

Please provide the requested information via email.
I understand that a decision on a request for information under the OIA should be made within 20 working days of receiving that request.

Yours Sincerely,

Sarah Reid

Link to this

From: Hon Michael Wood
Michael Wood

Kia ora,

On behalf of Hon Michael Wood, thank you for your email.

While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not possible to provide
a personal response to every email received.

Where the Minister has portfolio responsibility for the issues that you
have raised, your correspondence will be considered and responded to where
appropriate.  If your email falls outside of these responsibilities, it
may transferred to another office for consideration.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

(Please note that this acknowledgement is an automatically generated
email.)

If you haven't yet booked your free COVID-19 vaccine, we encourage you to
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Regards

Office of Hon Michael Wood

Minister of Transport | Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety |
Deputy Leader of the House

 

Private Bag 18041 |Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand

Office phone: +64 4 817 8847 | Email: [4][email address]

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2. https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccine...
3. https://smex-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/...
4. mailto:[Michael Wood request email]

Link to this

From: M Wood (MIN)

OIA22-536

Dear Sarah,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request dated the 10th of October 2022. You have requested the following information:

"Please provide the following information as at Monday 10 October:

1. All information relating to the granting of exemptions to the border rules for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season.
Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and documentation regarding :
a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order for the exemptions to be granted

All information relating to the granting of critical purpose visas and subsequent granting of work rights for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season.
Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and documentation regarding:
a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order for the exemptions to be granted

Please provide the requested information via email.
I understand that a decision on a request for information under the OIA should be made within 20 working days of receiving that request."

We received your request on 10/10/2022. We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 08/11/2022, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

Kind regards,

Office of Hon Michael Wood
Minister of Immigration | Minister of Transport | Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety

Private Bag 18041 |Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Office phone: +64 4 817 8731 | Email: [email address]

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: M Wood (MIN)

OIA22-536

Dear Sarah,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act request dated the 10th of October 2022. You have requested the following information:

"Please provide the following information as at Monday 10 October:

1. All information relating to the granting of exemptions to the border rules for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season.
Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and documentation regarding :
a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order for the exemptions to be granted

All information relating to the granting of critical purpose visas and subsequent granting of work rights for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season.
Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and documentation regarding:
a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order for the exemptions to be granted

Please provide the requested information via email.
I understand that a decision on a request for information under the OIA should be made within 20 working days of receiving that request."

This is to notify you that we are transferring your request to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This is because your request is believed to be more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Act to transfer your request.

You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of my decision to transfer your request. The relevant details can be found at: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

Kind Regards

Mark Andrew | Private Secretary (Immigration) | Office of Hon Michael Wood
Minister of Immigration | Minister of Transport | Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
Executive Wing | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand

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Link to this

From: Ministerial Services

Ref: 2223-0750

 

Dear Sarah Reid,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 10^th October 2022 requesting under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“Please provide the following information as at Monday 10 October:

 

1. All information relating to the granting of exemptions to the border
rules for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors,
ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery
operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022
season.

Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and
documentation regarding :

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

All information relating to the granting of critical purpose visas and
subsequent granting of work rights for ski industry workers (including ski
and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow
grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport
technician) for the winter 2022 season.

Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and
documentation regarding:

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted”

 

Your request has been transferred to the Ministry from the Minister of
Immigration and the Minister of Tourism on 12^th October 2022 and is being
processed in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. A response
will be sent to you in due course. If you have any enquiries regarding
your request feel free to contact us via email [1][email address] or
using the contact details below.

 

 

Nâku noa, nâ

 

Ministerial Services

 

Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

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Link to this

From: LSE Ministerial Servicing


Attachment image001.jpg
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Kia Ora Sarah,

 

Thank you for your emails of 10 October 2022 to Hon Michael Wood and Hon
Stuart Nash, as set out below:

 

Please provide the following information as at Monday 10 October:

 

1. All information relating to the granting of exemptions to the border
rules for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors,
ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery
operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022
season.

Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and
documentation regarding :

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

All information relating to the granting of critical purpose visas and
subsequent granting of work rights for ski industry workers (including ski
and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow
grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport
technician) for the winter 2022 season.

Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and
documentation regarding:

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

On 12 October 2022 your request was transferred by the Minister’s Office
under section 14 of the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) because your
request is believed to be more closely connected with the functions of the
MBIE.

 

MBIE has undertaken some initial work and assessment to understand what
material may be in scope of your request and is held by MBIE, and can
advise that due to the large amount of material encompassed, part of your
request, namely, “Please ensure this includes but is not limited to
communication and documentation” is likely to refused in reliance on
section 18(f) of the Act. The way it reads it could include any e-mail and
any document relating to a border exception for the ski industry. If that
is the case, there may be grounds for refusing on substantial collation
grounds. MBIE has not yet made this decision, and so would like to consult
with you about narrowing the scope of your request before doing so.

 

Our suggestion would be to rescope parts 1 and 2 of your request to
exclude emails from public service officials that were sent to the
Minister’s offices, and to exclude correspondence from individual members
of the public. A search using key terms encompasses many emails that are
not related to decisions being made – all such material is captured in
formal documents like Briefings, whereas other emails capture
administrative emails, or process information like lists of upcoming
papers or regular officials meetings. This information would be very
difficult to collate and subsequently determine as being within scope of
your specific criteria. Letters from members of the public mostly
encompass individual case issues, and it is unlikely that very much
material would be able to be released to you due to privacy
considerations.

 

If you agree, the rescoping of your request would be for:

 

1. All Briefings to the Minister’s Office(s) relating to the granting of
exemptions to the border rules for ski industry workers (including ski and
snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming
and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport
technician) for the winter 2022 season that contain information regarding
:

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

All Briefings to the Minister’s Office(s) relating to the granting of
critical purpose visas and subsequent granting of work rights for ski
industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and
safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and
ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season that
contain information regarding:

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

If you do not agree to a rescope then MBIE is likely to refuse these
aspects of your request in reliance on section 18(f) of the Act, as the
information requested cannot be made available without substantial
collation or research.

 

We are happy to discuss this request with you further, to better
understand what information you are looking for. You are welcome to
contact MBIE using the email address above.

 

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

 

Ministerial Services | Kaitohutohu Pouwhakahaere me te Minita Matua
Business Management Team

Office of the Deputy Secretary, Labour, Science and Enterprise | Ministry
of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1]www.mbie.govt.nz |Level 5, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box
1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

NZBN 9429000106078

[2]http://thelink/how/PublishingImages/mbie...

 

 

 

References

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1. http://www.mbie.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: LSE Ministerial Servicing


Attachment image001.jpg
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Kia Ora Sarah

 

On Wednesday 26 October we wrote to you to discuss rescoping your OIA
request. We don’t appear to have received a response at this stage and I
am writing to follow up.

 

To help expedite your request we would appreciate if you can let us know
by Tuesday 1 November if you are happy to rescope your request as outlined
below. Or please don’t hesitate contact us if you would like to discuss
your request further.

 

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

 

Ministerial Services | Kaitohutohu Pouwhakahaere me te Minita Matua
Business Management Team

Office of the Deputy Secretary, Labour, Science and Enterprise | Ministry
of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1]www.mbie.govt.nz |Level 5, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box
1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

NZBN 9429000106078

[2]http://thelink/how/PublishingImages/mbie...

 

 

From: LSE Ministerial Servicing <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 26 October 2022 2:24 PM
To: [email address];
[FOI #20818 email]
Cc: LSE Ministerial Servicing <[email address]>
Subject: IMPORTANT: Rescoping - DOIA 2223-0750 - Sarah Reid
[IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL]
Importance: High

 

Kia Ora Sarah,

 

Thank you for your emails of 10 October 2022 to Hon Michael Wood and Hon
Stuart Nash, as set out below:

 

Please provide the following information as at Monday 10 October:

 

1. All information relating to the granting of exemptions to the border
rules for ski industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors,
ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery
operators, and ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022
season.

Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and
documentation regarding :

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

All information relating to the granting of critical purpose visas and
subsequent granting of work rights for ski industry workers (including ski
and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow
grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport
technician) for the winter 2022 season.

Please ensure this includes but is not limited to communication and
documentation regarding:

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

On 12 October 2022 your request was transferred by the Minister’s Office
under section 14 of the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) because your
request is believed to be more closely connected with the functions of the
MBIE.

 

MBIE has undertaken some initial work and assessment to understand what
material may be in scope of your request and is held by MBIE, and can
advise that due to the large amount of material encompassed, part of your
request, namely, “Please ensure this includes but is not limited to
communication and documentation” is likely to refused in reliance on
section 18(f) of the Act. The way it reads it could include any e-mail and
any document relating to a border exception for the ski industry. If that
is the case, there may be grounds for refusing on substantial collation
grounds. MBIE has not yet made this decision, and so would like to consult
with you about narrowing the scope of your request before doing so.

 

Our suggestion would be to rescope parts 1 and 2 of your request to
exclude emails from public service officials that were sent to the
Minister’s offices, and to exclude correspondence from individual members
of the public. A search using key terms encompasses many emails that are
not related to decisions being made – all such material is captured in
formal documents like Briefings, whereas other emails capture
administrative emails, or process information like lists of upcoming
papers or regular officials meetings. This information would be very
difficult to collate and subsequently determine as being within scope of
your specific criteria. Letters from members of the public mostly
encompass individual case issues, and it is unlikely that very much
material would be able to be released to you due to privacy
considerations.

 

If you agree, the rescoping of your request would be for:

 

1. All Briefings to the Minister’s Office(s) relating to the granting of
exemptions to the border rules for ski industry workers (including ski and
snowboard instructors, ski patrol and safety specialists, snow grooming
and snowmaking machinery operators, and ski lift and snow sport
technician) for the winter 2022 season that contain information regarding
:

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

All Briefings to the Minister’s Office(s) relating to the granting of
critical purpose visas and subsequent granting of work rights for ski
industry workers (including ski and snowboard instructors, ski patrol and
safety specialists, snow grooming and snowmaking machinery operators, and
ski lift and snow sport technician) for the winter 2022 season that
contain information regarding:

a. any conditions agreed to regarding rates of pay for those granted an
exemption b. any conditions agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work
for those granted an exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order
for the exemptions to be granted

 

If you do not agree to a rescope then MBIE is likely to refuse these
aspects of your request in reliance on section 18(f) of the Act, as the
information requested cannot be made available without substantial
collation or research.

 

We are happy to discuss this request with you further, to better
understand what information you are looking for. You are welcome to
contact MBIE using the email address above.

 

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

 

Ministerial Services | Kaitohutohu Pouwhakahaere me te Minita Matua
Business Management Team

Office of the Deputy Secretary, Labour, Science and Enterprise | Ministry
of Business, Innovation & Employment

[3]www.mbie.govt.nz |Level 5, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box
1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

NZBN 9429000106078

[4]http://thelink/how/PublishingImages/mbie...

 

 

 

References

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Link to this

From: S G Reid

Dear LSE Ministerial Servicing,

I agree to the rescoping as outlined in your previous email.
I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

S G Reid

Link to this

From: LSE Ministerial Servicing


Attachment image001.jpg
5K Download


Kia ora Sarah

 

Thank you for your email confirming the rescoping this your request.

 

To confirm, we will be providing all briefings to the minister regarding
the granting of exemptions to the border rules and granting of critical
purpose visas and subsequent granting of work rights for ski industry
workers that contain information regarding: a. any conditions agreed to
regarding rates of pay for those granted an exemption b. any conditions
agreed to surrounding guaranteed hours of work for those granted an
exemption c. any other conditions agreed to in order for the exemptions to
be granted. This will exclude internal and external emails relating to
these topics due to the substantive work it would require to collate this
material.

 

We will provide our response in due course.

 

Thank you again for your assistance.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Ministerial Services | Kaitohutohu Pouwhakahaere me te Minita Matua
Business Management Team

Office of the Deputy Secretary, Labour, Science and Enterprise | Ministry
of Business, Innovation & Employment

[1]www.mbie.govt.nz |Level 5, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box
1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

NZBN 9429000106078

[2]http://thelink/how/PublishingImages/mbie...

 

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Michael Wood only: