Kia ora Gus,

On behalf of Hon Chris Penk, I confirm receipt of your OIA request.

Ngâ mihi,

Private Secretary – Executive Support | Office of Hon Chris Penk
Minister for Building and Construction
Minister for Land Information
Minister for Veterans
Associate Minister of Defence
Associate Minister of Immigration

Email: [Chris Penk request email]
Website: www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 180.41, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Chris Penk, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.

show quoted sections

Kia ora Gus,

 

I write on behalf of Hon Chris Penk, Associate Minister of Immigration,
regarding your Official Information Act (OIA, the Act) request, copied
here for ease:

 

Please provide the following information regarding your decision to grant
Candice Owens a visa to enter New Zealand:

 

1. All communication and advice from Immigration on why they made the
decision to decline the visa.

 

2. All communication and advice from Immigration to assist you in making
your own decision.

 

3. All correspondence from you and your office to Immigration regarding
the visa(s).

 

4. All communications with the other Immigration Ministers regarding the
visa(s).

 

5. All communications with the Prime Minister regarding the visa(s).

 

6. All communciation and advice received regarding the use of ministerial
interference.

 

7. All correspondence received from the following - the Department of
Internal Affairs, the Classification Office, the Ministry of Justice,
Police - regarding or mentioning Candice Owens.

 

8. All communications received from the Free Speech Union regarding the
visa(s).

 

9. Any other communications and correspondence you have received regarding
or mentioning Candice Owens that is about or alluding to Nazis (and
similar terms such as Neo-Nazi and Nazism), the Holocaust, COVID-19, and
the Christchurch terrorist shooting (and similar terms such including the
name of the shooter).

 

It has been identified that an extension is required to allow the office,
assisted by INZ, to conduct necessary consultations to make a decision on
your request. As such, we are today extending the time limit of your
request in accordance with section 15A(1)(b) of the Act by 15 working days
and is now due back to you on Monday, 24 February 2025. With that said, we
will endeavour to provide you with a response as soon as feasible before
the quoted date.

 

Thank you for your kind consideration and please do not hesitate to
contact us should you have any questions regarding this matter.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

 

 

Private Secretary – Executive Support | Office of Hon Chris Penk

Minister for Building and Construction

Minister for Land Information

Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing
Minister for Veterans

Associate Minister of Defence

Associate Minister of Immigration

 
Email: [1][Chris Penk request email]

Website: [2]www.Beehive.govt.nz

Private Bag 180.41, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Chris Penk, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

 

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References

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1. mailto:[Chris Penk request email]
2. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/