V o t e ( s ) :   Immigration 
P r o p o s a l :   Refugee Status Branch – additional baseline 
funding 
F u n d i n g   a l l o c a t i o n :   Other 
Short Description: 
Substantial injections of funding for refugee status determinations were made in the 
late 1990s and early 2000s.  That funding ended in 2002/03, leaving the baseline 
funding for the Refugee Status Branch too low to meet current inflows.  In the 2002 
Budget Ministers agreed to a one-off injection, for 2002/03 only, on the basis that the 
Department of Labour and the Treasury would review the future funding needs for 
refugee status determinations before the 2003 Budget to establish what levels of 
ongoing funding might be required.  Following that review, officials recommend an 
increase in 
DRAFT
baselines of $3.530 million (GST inclusive) from 2003/04. 
Initiative Ranking:  3 of 5 
Impact on the Provisions] 
$m* 
 
2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 
Net operating impact (GST incl) 
 3,530 3,530 3,530 3,530 
Benefits / Contribution to Growth 
The initiative will benefit genuine refugees and New Zealand. 
 It will benefit genuine refugee status claimants through continuing to give them their
decisions quickly, so they can gain the security of knowing they will not be returned
to face persecution, and can begin their new life;  and
 New Zealand through reducing the incentives for people to falsely claim refugee
status.  When claims are determined quickly, people who have made them in order
to work cannot earn enough to make their trip to New Zealand worthwhile.
Collaboration in development and implementation 
The review was carried out with the Treasury. 
Costing Information 
[to come from Finance] 

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Risks 
There is a possibility that, in a departure from recent years, no “shocks” occur and the 
Refugee Status Branch is resourced to undertake more work than is required.  In that 
 case at the next review funding would be returned to the Crown. 
There is a risk that the rate of refugee status claiming rises sharply again (for example, 
if boats arrive) and that the funding is not sufficient to meet inflows.  In that case 
backlogs may be permitted to build up again, and / or more funding may be sought 
from the Crown. 
 There are no legislative changes required. 
Evaluation  
The average age of refugee status claims is reported on regularly as part of the NZIS’s 
normal performance monitoring.   
 Draft Recommendations to Economic Development Ministers 
It is recommended that Ministers: 
1. 
approve the following changes in provisions to achieve and maintain the timely 
determination of refugee claims 
DRAFT  
- 3.530 
3.530 
3.530
 
 $million 
– increase/(decrease) 
Vote Immigration 
2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06  2006/07  GST 
Departmental Output Class: 
Services to position New 
 
3.530 
Incl 
Zealand as an international 
citizen with immigration-related 
interests and obligations 
(funded by revenue Crown) 
 
 
2

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