Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/20938-interest-in-issues-within-the-citizenship-office-at-dia on April 26, 2024 17:58

Interest in issues within the Citizenship Office at DIA

John made this Official Information request to Chris Hipkins

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Chris Hipkins should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: John

Dear Chris Hipkins,

I am writing this to you in your capacity as Minister for Public Service.

Under the OIA, I would like to ask and request:

- Has the Minister questioned, enquired PSC in relation to what is happening at DIA’s Citizenship Office on its delays on processing Citizenship applications? If yes, please provide copies of communications. If not, why not?

On the question above, before your office mentions DIA falls under the responsibility of the Minister of Internal Affairs, in a recent response to me, the Minister has replied when asked about the issues at the Citizenship Office and I quote “As Minister, it is not appropriate for me to get involved in operational matters such as this.”

If it’s not appropriate for the Minister of Internal Affairs, does it fall under the Minister for Public Service? If not, who would be accountable for it?

Is there anything that the Minister for Public Service can do to solve this matter of permanent residents waiting very long for their Citizenship?

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

John

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From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins

Kia ora,

On behalf of Hon Chris Hipkins, thank you for your email.  Please accept
this as acknowledgement that your email has been received by my office.

While the Minister considers all correspondence to be important, and all
messages are carefully read and considered, it is not always possible to
personally reply to all emails. 

As such, the following guidelines apply:

o Invitations and meeting requests will be processed as soon as possible
and a staff member will be in contact with you in due course
o All media queries will be responded to by a staff member
o Requests for official information will be managed in accordance with
the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982, which may include
transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency
o If your email falls outside of the Minister’s portfolio
responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple
Members of Parliament, then your opinion will be noted and your
correspondence may be transferred to another office, or there may be
no further response to you

Thank you for the taking the time to write.

Nga mihi,

Office of Hon Chris Hipkins

Minister of Education, Minister of Police, Minister for the Public
Service, Leader of the House

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

Authorised by Hon Chris Hipkins MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6011

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