IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe Jaskaran Walia

 

Thank you for your email dated 4 November 2025 to the Ministry of Social
Development (the Ministry) regarding the possible implications of a person
holding a Parent Resident Visa applying for a Community Service Card
and/or SuperGold Card.

 

The parts of your query highlighted below is more closely related with the
functions of the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE)
and was transferred to that agency for response on 6 November 2025. MBIE
will contact you in due course.

 

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I am writing to confirm the if the cards listed below are considered as
accessing welfare payment from work and income and would result in breach
in Section 49(1) of parent resident visa holder by Immigration New Zealand
or these are simply a discount counts.

 

Community Services Card

Supergold card

AT Total Mobility card

 

My questions is to seek confirmation how Work and Income and/or
Immigration New Zealand treat these cards i.e. as accessing welfare
payment or simply a discount card.

 

This is to ensure we don't breach the Section 49(1) condition on parent
resident visa that says "Accessing welfare payment from work and income
during your 10 year sponsorship period would be considered a breach of
Section 49(1) conditions and may make you liable for deportation"

 

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Nā mātou noa, nā

 

 

Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau

 

 

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Kia ora Jaskaran Walia,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your request of 4 November 2025 that was sent to the Ministry
of Social Development under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). 

 

The below point of your request has been transferred to the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment from the Ministry of Social
Development on 6 November 2025 and is being processed in accordance with
the Official Information Act 1982. A response will be sent to you in due
course.

 

"I am writing to confirm the if the cards listed below are considered as
accessing welfare payment from work and income and would result in breach
in Section 49(1) of parent resident visa holder by Immigration New Zealand
or these are simply a discount counts.

 

Community Services Card

 

Supergold card

 

AT Total Mobility card

 

My questions is to seek confirmation how Work and Income and/or
Immigration New Zealand treat these cards i.e. as accessing welfare
payment or simply a discount card.

 

This is to ensure we don't breach the Section 49(1) condition on parent
resident visa that says "Accessing welfare payment from work and income
during your 10 year sponsorship period would be considered a breach of
Section 49(1) conditions and may make you liable for deportation" 

 

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 4 December 2025, being 20 working days after the day your
request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then,
we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.  If you have any
enquiries regarding your request, feel free to contact us via email
to [1][email address].

 
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
 
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe Jaskaran Walia

 

Please find a reply on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Ministry of
Social Development attached.

 

Nā mātou noa, nā

[1][email address]

Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

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Kia ora,

 

Thank you for emailing us.

 

If you have a general enquiry, we encourage you to contact our dedicated
Contact Centre on 0800 559 009. They will be happy to assist you.

 

The call centre is available Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm, and on
Saturday between 8am to 1pm.

 

If you have attached a document, you will need to either upload it through
MyMSD, or take it into your local Work and Income Office.

 

Here are some useful links

 

·    More information about MyMSD: [1]MyMSD - Work and Income

·    Apply online for assistance: [2]Apply online - Work and Income

·    Check what you may qualify for: [3]Check what you might get

·    Other contact information: [4]Contact Us - Work and Income

·    MSD feedback and enquiry form: [5]MSD feedback and enquiry form

 

Nā mātou noa, nā

[6][email address]
Ministry of Social Development

MSD purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki tangata, manaaki whānau

[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

This email and any attachments may contain information that is
confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this
email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in
error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the
email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no
responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after
transmission from the Ministry.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/online...
2. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/online...
3. https://check.msd.govt.nz/
4. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-...
5. https://www.msd.govt.nz/online_forms/msd...
6. mailto:[email address]
7. https://www.msd.govt.nz/

Kia ora Jaskaran, I’m reaching out regarding your below email, which as
you’re aware, was partially transferred to the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to respond to.

 

After a thorough consideration of your queries we have determined it is
not a request for held information, rather, it requires MBIE to form an
opinion in response.

 

As such, we will not be responding to your request under the Official
Information Act, but will be endeavouring to provide a response to you as
general correspondence. We are in the final stages of preparing a response
to your queries and hope to have such a response for you very shortly.
Apologies for the inconvenience.

 

Kind regards,

 

Ethan

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

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Kia ora Jaskaran,

 

Please see attached response to your query.

 

Ethan

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

From: INZ OIAs
Sent: Thursday, 4 December 2025 6:00 pm
To: [FOI #32726 email]
Cc: Ministerials <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Discount card or welfare
payment DOIA-REQ-0023552 CRM:0306799

 

Kia ora Jaskaran, I’m reaching out regarding your below email, which as
you’re aware, was partially transferred to the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to respond to.

 

After a thorough consideration of your queries we have determined it is
not a request for held information, rather, it requires MBIE to form an
opinion in response.

 

As such, we will not be responding to your request under the Official
Information Act, but will be endeavouring to provide a response to you as
general correspondence. We are in the final stages of preparing a response
to your queries and hope to have such a response for you very shortly.
Apologies for the inconvenience.

 

Kind regards,

 

Ethan

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

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