25 June 2026
45 Pipitea Street, Wel ington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
Eddie J
fyi-request-34831-
[email address]
Tēnā koe Eddie
OIA request 25/26 1293 Request for information about citizenship ceremony wait times
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 2 June 2026.
You requested –
1. What success has the Department had in encouraging smal er councils to arrange more
frequent and/or larger sized ceremonies?
2. If councils are unable or unwil ing to increase ceremony frequency or capacity, what
alternative strategies does the Department have to ensure timely citizenship ceremonies
for affected applicants?
3. Under what Act or Regulation is the Department now declining requests from applicants
to attend ceremonies in other districts, particularly when wait times in smal districts
massively exceed those in larger districts?
In response to your request I can provide you with the fol owing information.
Question one
You have asked for an opinion as to “what success” the Department had in encouraging smal er
councils arrange more frequent and/or larger sized ceremonies. It may be helpful to explain that
the Department is not obliged to form an opinion, create information or provide legal advice to
answer an official information request. There is a difference between:
questions which can be answered by providing information already known to and held
by the agency (official information); and
questions which require the agency to form an opinion or provide an explanation and so
create new information to answer the request (not official information).
I am able to advise that the Department supports councils by providing regular (monthly)
updates on applicants wait times and the number of applicants awaiting ceremony al ocation in
their region. We also assess and communicate any risks where waitlists are growing or where
applicants may exceed the expected timeframe of 1–6 months, as outlined in citizenship
approval correspondence.
Through this engagement, some councils have adjusted ceremony arrangements in response to
demand, such as:
scheduled additional ceremonies,
increased capacity at existing ceremonies, and
secured alternative venues to accommodate larger numbers of applicants.
These actions have contributed to improved management of waitlists and, in some cases,
reduced waiting times for applicants. However, outcomes vary and are dependent on council
resourcing, local priorities, and other operational considerations.
Question two
The Department’s role is to provide information and advice to local councils regarding demand
for citizenship ceremonies, including waitlist volumes, indicative wait times, and applicants
approaching the expiry of their approval period. In most cases, councils are receptive to this
information and adjust their arrangements where practicable.
In such circumstances where a council may not be able to increase frequency or capacity of
ceremonies, the Department wil work with any applicants affected by identifying alternative
options to enable them to complete the ceremonial requirement within the required
timeframe. This may include working with applicants who are wil ing and able to travel to attend
a ceremony in another location.
The Department engages directly with applicants to facilitate these arrangements and to ensure
they are aware of available options. While the Department seeks to support applicants to
attend a ceremony within the 12-month validity period of their approval, applicants are
responsible for advising the Department of any constraints on their availability (such as travel or
other commitments), which may affect their wait time and ability to attend.
Question three
I can advise that the al ocation of applicants to ceremonies is guided by operational
arrangements, including memoranda of understanding between the Department and local
councils, not a specific Act or Regulation. These arrangements support the effective
administration of ceremonies and are intended to ensure that councils prioritise applicants
residing within their district, given that capacity is often limited.
In practice, al ocations are managed to promote fairness and consistency across al applicants.
Factors such as length of time waiting, proximity to lapse dates, and individual circumstances
are taken into account. While applicants may request to attend a ceremony in another district,
such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and are subject to availability and
agreement from the relevant council.
The Department continues to monitor wait times and works with councils to manage demand
across districts. Where appropriate and feasible, options for attending ceremonies outside an
applicant’s district may be explored, particularly where this would assist in ensuring timely
access to a ceremony. However, these arrangements depend on available capacity and the
operational decisions of the host council.
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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 DIA website. Al requestor data,
including your name and contact details, wil be removed prior to release. The released
response wil 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
Julia Taylor
Director Branch Performance
Regulatory and Identity Services
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