12 March 2025
45 Pipitea Street, Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
John Luke via FYI
fyi-request-29999-
[email address]
Tēnā koe John
OIA request 24/25 0757 Request for Diplomatic and Official passports
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 12 February 2025, by way of transfer pursuant to section 14(b)(i ) of the
Act from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). This section provides that the
information, or some of the information, to which the request relates is believed by the person
dealing with the request to be more closely connected with the function of another
department.
You requested –
1. I would like to kindly request the policy regarding the issuance of official and diplomatic
passports.
2. Additional y, could you provide information on how many holders of official and
diplomatic passports are recorded in your database?
3. Furthermore, I have been unable to find images of the official and diplomatic passports
online. Could you provide a copy of the cover page for both types of passports?
In response to your request, I can provide you with the fol owing information.
Questions one
I refer you to Appendix A –Policy for New Zealand Diplomatic and Official Passports, which is a
policy and guidance document from Tuwhiria Te Tikanga (Tuwhiria). Tuwhiria is the
Department’s online operational policy resource and knowledge management system. The main
purpose for this system is to have standardised business knowledge across service delivery and
operations, which enables staff to find the correct information quickly and ensure consistent
application of the most up to date accurate policies and procedures by al staff.
Question two
I can advise that diplomatic and official passports are valid for up to 10 years and are recal ed by
the agency that supported the application, should the applicant no longer be entitled to it.
Caveats to data
The data was col ated on Tuesday 18 February 2025 and is accurate as at this date.
As the data is extracted from dynamic systems, there may be smal variances when
compared with prior or future datasets.
Valid New Zealand Diplomatic and Official passports
as at 18 February 2025
Type
Count
Diplomatic
2,411
Official
1,241
Total 3,652
Question three
I refer you to Appendix B for images of New Zealand diplomatic and official passports.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, the Department has
decided to proactively release a copy of this response on its website. Al requestor data,
including your name and contact details, wil be removed prior to release. The released
response wil be made available here: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-
ActRequests-2.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Julia Taylor
Manager Operational Policy and Official Correspondence
Regulatory and Identity Services
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