10 March 2026
45 Pipitea Street, Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
Eddie J via FYI
fyi-request-33688-
[email address]
Tēnā koe Eddie
OIA request 25/26 0835 Request for Citizenship Ceremony Information
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 11 February 2026.
You requested –
1. What is the typical number of people invited to attend each citizenship ceremony held in
Timaru?
2. On days when more than one citizenship ceremony is organised, approximately how
many attendees are accommodated in total?
3. Could you please advise whether the Department of Internal Affairs is taking any active
steps to reduce the backlog and extended wait times for Timaru-based applicants? For
example, are there plans to: hold ceremonies more frequently, or use larger venues to
accommodate more attendees?
In response to your request, I can provide you with the fol owing information.
Question one
I can advise that the maximum number of candidates that can be al ocated, and are typically
invited, to a single ceremony in Timaru is 30 people.
Question two
I can advise that the maximum number of ceremonies that can take place in a single day in
Timaru is two. Therefore, a maximum of 60 people can be allocated to ceremonies in a day.
Question three
The Department is aware that applicants in smaller districts are experiencing longer wait times
for citizenship ceremonies and are working proactively with local councils to support the
scheduling of additional ceremonies. I note, councils are responsible for selecting ceremony
dates and are provided with regular updates from the Department on their waitlist numbers.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, the Department has
decided to proactively release a copy of this response on the Department website. Al requestor
data, including your name and contact details, wil be removed prior to release. The released
response will be made available here:
https://www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-
Requests-2.
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
Deidre Sheppard
Director Branch Performance (Acting)
Regulatory and Identity Service
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