Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

Hope this message finds you well.

I am reading the Presence in NZ requirements of Requirements for NZ citizenship webpage:https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-cit..., and feel confused about the requirement of "240 days in each 12-month period", especially the definition of "12-month period".

Also, I am not clear about the note "You might not meet this requirement if you have been out of New Zealand for longer than 4 months in any 12-month period".

The simple and straight understanding of the "12-month period" is to split the 5 years into five 12-month periods and the 5 years counted backwards from the day of application for citizenship. Then we count the 240 days, or 4 months in each of the five 12-month periods, which is very clear.

However, another understanding to the wording could also make sense. There should be 48 possible combinations of the "12-month period". For example, in the 5-year period of January 2021 to January 2026, 02/2021 - 02/2022 can be a combination and 01/2025 - 01/2026 can also be a combination. So does the applicant needs to stay 240 days in NZ, or not be out of NZ for 4 months, in each possible combination of 12-month period in the given 5 years?

For example, how do you count the 240 days in each 12-month period if an applicant submits citizenship application in January 2026 while they were out of NZ during period of 04/2025 - 07/2025, and period of 09/2024- 12/2024? In this example, the applicant were out of NZ for 3 months in each 12-month period of 01/2025-01/2026 and 01/2024 - 01/2025. But you can also say that the applicant were out of NZ for 6 months in the 12-month period of 09/2024 - 09/2025, which is also a kind of possible combination of 12-month period.

Looking forward to your clarification on the definition of "12-month period".

Yours faithfully,
Peter