16 March 2026
Ref: DOIA-REQ-0028394-A P Clarke
A P Clarke
Email: [FYI request #33809 email]
Tēnā koe A P Clarke
Thank you for your request of 23/02/2026 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
‘Stats NZ shows that 66,300 NZ citizens emigrated in 2025. What I would like to know is how many of that
66,300 were naturalised citizens and of those naturalised citizens how many obtained citizenship less than
12, 24 and 60 months prior to emigrating?’
MBIE does not hold this information. We have consulted with the relevant external agencies — the
Department of Internal Affairs, Statistics New Zealand, and Customs New Zealand — and each has
confirmed that they do not collect or hold the above data.
MBIE is therefore refusing your request under section 18(g) of the Act, that the information requested is
not held by the department or venture or Minister of the Crown or organisation and the person dealing
with the request has no grounds for believing that the information is either—
(i)
held by another department (for itself and for a departmental agency hosted by it or an
interdepartmental executive board serviced by it) or interdepartmental venture or Minister
of the Crown or organisation, or by a local authority; or
(ii)
connected more closely with the functions of another department (for itself and for a
departmental agency hosted by it or an interdepartmental executive board serviced by it) or
interdepartmental venture or Minister of the Crown or organisation or of a local authority:
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please con
tact [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
Nick Ross
TEAM LEADER – MINISTERIAL SERVICES BUSINESS ADVISORY
