14 July 2025
H Carter
[FYI request #30615 email]
Tēnā koe H Carter
Official Information Act request
On 16 June 2025, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
transferred to us part of your request for the following information:
•
Information on policies addressing the economic and workforce implications
of declining population, including workforce shortages, immigration
strategies, economic development plans, housing availability, and related
digital infrastructure improvements. (Relevant agencies: Immigration,
Social
Development,
Housing,
Economic
Development,
Digital
Infrastructure.)
MBIE transferred the part of your request regarding ‘workforce shortages’ to the
Ministry for response.
I have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Please find my decision on your request set out below.
The Ministry does not have any policies or strategies relating to New Zealand’s
declining population. As such, I am refusing your request under section 18(g) of
the Act as the information you had requested is not held by the Ministry and I have
no grounds to believe that the information is either held by or closely connected
to the functions of another department, Minister of the Crown, or organisation.
You may be interested to read about the Ministry’s response to New Zealand’s
ageing population. Please refer to the following web pages for further information:
1. The strategy produced by the Office for Seniors (a part of the Ministry),
Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumatua 2019 to 2034, available here:
www.officeforseniors.govt.nz/better-later-life-strategy.
2. The Ministry produced a 2025 Long-term Insights Briefing,
Current and
future
disadvantage
for
older
New
Zealanders,
here:
www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/long-
term-insights-briefing/msds-2025-long-term-insights-briefing.html.
3. You may also find the following Reserve Bank of New Zealand paper of
interest,
Aging is a drag: Projecting labour force participation in New
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
Zealand (November 2018):
www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/publications/analytical-
note/2018/an2018-10
I will be publishing this decision letter, with your personal details deleted, on the
Ministry’s website in due course.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[email address]. If you are not satisfied with my decision on your request, you have the right to
seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to
make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
pp.
Anna Graham
General Manager Ministerial and Executive Services
