10 February 2025
Kieran Pegler
[FYI request #29541 email]
DOIA-REQ-0007890
Tēnā koe Kieran
Thank you for your correspondence to Hon Chris Penk, Associate Minister of Immigration, requesting
under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the fol owing:
1) All advice to you from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) on Candace Owens;
2) All information received by you or INZ about Candace Owens from those representing or
assisting her with her request for a special direction that she be granted a visa;
3) All information provided to INZ or you from Candace Owens or her representatives;
4) All information about Candace Owens received by you or INZ from other NZ government
departments;
5) All information about Candace Owens you or INZ received from 3rd parties outside government.
Under section 16 of the OIA my preference is to receive the whole of any document which contains
information within the scope of this request. Under the same section my preference is to receive
the information in a text-searchable format.
Under section 19(a)(i ) I further request that if you decide to withhold any information, you also
provide an explanation of the grounds in support of your reason(s) for withholding, and the public
interest factors favouring disclosure that you considered.
On 19 December 2024, parts 2, 3, 4 and 5 were transferred to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act, as it relates to items held by Immigration New
Zealand.
I am writing to advise you that MBIE has decided to extend the period of time available to make a
decision on your request under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, as consultations necessary to make a
decision on your request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made
within the original time limit.
MBIE wil notify you of a decision on your request no later than 25 February 2025.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Emma Palmer
Acting Manager, Ministerial Services
Associate Deputy Secretary Immigration
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
