31 July 2023
Wendy Yang
[FYI request #23160 email] File No: DOIA 2223-2953
Dear Ms Yang,
I refer to your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) received on 16 June 2023
requesting the following information from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(Ministry):
•
Please provide the overall data on the number of overstayers and the age distribution,
separated by gender.
•
Please provide the data on the number of overstayers from China and the age distribution,
separated by gender.
•
Please provide information on the regions in China from which the overstayers originate,
along with the respective numbers of overstayers in each region, separated by gender and
age groups.
•
Please provide the data for each year between 2018 and 2023 regarding the questions
below, including the male-to-female ratio and the age distribution: - How many Chinese
overstayers obtained visas through a partnership with New Zealanders under section 61? -
How many Chinese overstayers obtained visas through Ministerial Intervention (special
direction) based on a partnership with New Zealanders?
Our Response
This response is addressing point four of your request, noting points one to three were responded to
on 17 July 2023.
Please provide the data for each year between 2018 and 2023 regarding the questions below,
including the male-to-female ratio and the age distribution: - How many Chinese overstayers
obtained visas through a partnership with New Zealanders under section 61? – How many
Chinese overstayers obtained visas through Ministerial Intervention (special direction) based on a
partnership with New Zealanders?
Tables one and two below relate to Chinese nationals who were in New Zealand without a valid visa
and who either made a request for a visa under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 and went on
to apply for a Partnership visa. Or who made a request to the Associate Minister of Immigration for
a visa, based on their partnership with a New Zealand citizen, through ministerial intervention.
Table One
Number of Chinese nationals without a valid visa
that were granted a visa under section 61 of the Act
and then went on to apply for a partnership visa,
between 1 July 2018 and 14 July 2023, ordered by
age group and gender
Age group
Gender
Number
0 – 19 years old
Female
7
Male
<=5
20 – 29 years old
Female
35
Male
21
30 – 39 years old
Female
84
Male
70
40 – 49 years old
Female
49
Male
30
50 – 59 years old
Female
15
Male
16
60 years old and over
Female
9
Male
8
Due to privacy reasons any number that is five or less has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the
OIA as the release of those numbers could potentially identify the individual(s).
Table Two
Number of Chinese nationals without a valid visa
that were granted a visa under Ministerial
intervention, based on their partnership to a New
Zealand citizen, between 1 July 2018 and 14 July
2023, ordered by age group and gender
Age group
Gender
Number
0 – 19 years old
Female
0
Male
0
20 – 29 years old
Female
0
Male
0
30 – 39 years old
Female
0
Male
0
40 – 49 years old
Female
0
Male
0
50 – 59 years old
Female
0
Male
0
60 years old and over
Female
0
Male
0
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my response by the Ombudsman, whose
address for contact purposes is:
The Ombudsman
Office of the Ombudsman
P O Box 10-152
WELLINGTON
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact
[email address]. Yours sincerely,
Richard Owen
General Manager – Immigration Risk and Border
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment