29 May 2025
Ref: DOIA-REQ-0013591-K Patel
K Patel
Email: [FYI request #30888 email] 
Tēnā koe K Patel
Thank you for your email of 2 May 2025 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment 
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
• What work has been undertaken by MBIE regarding the development or consideration of 
a 5-year parent visitor visa policy?
• What stage is the policy currently at (e.g., preliminary discussion, policy development, 
Cabinet consideration)?
•  If any documents exist related to this proposed visa policy (such as briefings, cabinet 
papers, policy advice, meeting minutes, or internal communications), please release them.
In response to your first question, MBIE officials have been undertaking policy advice, impact 
analysis, detailed design, and implementation planning in relation to the new parent visa policy.
In response to your second question, decisions are currently being taken on the policy. 
In response to your third question, please find attached the documentation relevant to your 
request. There are six documents in scope of your request. Of these, one document is being 
released to you with some information withheld. The remaining five are being withheld in full. 
The documents, and the decisions as to their release, are outlined in the table below:
#
Date
Description/Title
Withholding grounds
1
13 Feb 
Briefing REQ-0009473-Coalition Commitment to 
Some information has 
2025
introduce a new parent visitor visa-proposed scope and  been withheld under 
timing
s 9(2)(a) and 
s9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act.
2
6 March 
Briefing REQ-00100409-New Parent Visitor Visa-Key 
Withheld in full under 
2025
Design Options
section 9(2)(f)(iv) of 
the Act.
3
12 March 
Briefing REQ-0010961-New Parent Visitor-Visa(rest of 
Withheld in full under 
2025
title withheld under s 9(2)(f)(iv))
section 9(2)(f)(iv) of 
the Act.

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4
3 April 
Briefing REQ-0011920-Parent Boost-further advice on 
Withheld in full under 
2025
(rest of title withheld under s 9(2)(f)(iv))
section 9(2)(f)(iv) of 
the Act.
5
10 April 
Email with documents attached (subject withheld under  Withheld in full under 
2025
s 9(2)(f)(iv))
section 9(2)(f)(iv) of 
the Act.
6
10 April 
Email with documents attached (subject withheld under  Withheld in full under 
2025
s 9(2)(f)(iv))
section 9(2)(f)(iv) of 
the Act.
Please note some information has been withheld under the following sections of the Act: 
• 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural 
persons;
• 9(2)(f)(iv), to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time being which protect 
the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials
I do not consider that the withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest 
considerations in making the information available.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further 
assistance, please contact [email address].
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.
Nāku noa, nā
Polly Vowles
Manager Immigration (Skills and Residence) Policy
Employment, Skills and Immigration Policy

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