Kia ora Vivian,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 9/02/2026 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
 
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request statistics on decision
timeframes for onshore refugee and protection claims decided by Refugee
Status Unit (RSU).

For the period from 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025, please provide:

1. The total number of first-instance decisions made by the RSU on onshore
refugee and protection claims; and
2. The median number of calendar days between the date the claim was
formally lodged/confirmed and the date of the RSU first-instance
decision.
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 9/03/2026, 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][MBIE request email].
 
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:[MBIE request email]

 Kia ora Vivian,

 

Please see attached response to your request. Please note there is
information on timeframes on our website at [1]Claiming refugee or
protected person status :: Immigration New Zealand.

 

Immigration New Zealand’s priority is to provide a robust and fair system
that enables genuine asylum seekers to be processed as efficiently as
possible. The core purpose of an asylum claim is to protect people who
have a well-founded fear of being persecuted in their home country and
must not be misused as a means to prolong one's stay, access work rights,
or obtain other services in New Zealand. Claims for refugee and protection
status are assessed thoroughly on their own individual circumstances in
accordance with New Zealand refugee law and the relevant international
conventions.

 

We hope this information is helpful and kind regards,

 

Ethan

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

 

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: [2][FOI #33659 email]; 
Received: Mon Feb 09 2026 00:25:52 GMT+1300 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
To: OIA <[3][MBIE request email]>; 
Subject: Official Information request - RSU decision times for onshore
refugee and protection claims

[Some people who received this message don't often get email from
[4][FOI #33659 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request statistics on decision
timeframes for onshore refugee and protection claims decided by Refugee
Status Unit (RSU).

For the period from 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025, please provide:

1. The total number of first-instance decisions made by the RSU on onshore
refugee and protection claims; and
2. The median number of calendar days between the date the claim was
formally lodged/confirmed and the date of the RSU first-instance decision.

Yours faithfully,
Vivian

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/live/ref...
2. mailto:[FOI #33659 email]
3. mailto:[MBIE request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #33659 email]
5. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
6. mailto:[FOI #33659 email]
7. mailto:[MBIE request email]
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9. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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