Beth
[FYI request #13284 email]
23 July 2020
File No: DOIA 2021 – 0091
Dear Beth,
Thank you for your email on 12 July 2020, requesting the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
Could you please provide the fol owing information: How many Border Exemption Visas
related to COVID 19 have been granted to people over the age of 65? Under what category
those border exemptions were granted? (Partner NZ Citizen, Health worker etc) If the visa
granted was a Variation of conditions what was the original visa held? How many of the
people over 65 have entered the country since their visa was granted?
Our response
On 14 July 2020 we sought to establish your entitlement to make requests for official information.
We sent you a follow up email on 17 July 2020. To date, we have not received a response. We are
not satisfied that you are legal y entitled to make this request and accordingly we are not obligated
to respond.
Please note that the New Zealand border is closed to most travellers with the exception of New
Zealand citizens and residents and people who have a critical purpose to travel to New Zealand and
are granted a border exception to come here. This is to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and
protect the health of people already in New Zealand.
The bar for being granted an exception to the border restrictions is set high to help stop the spread
of COVID-19 and protect the health of people already in New Zealand. Requests for exceptions to
the border restrictions are considered against the strict criteria as set out in immigration
instructions.
You have the right to contest the decision to withhold information by seeking an investigation and
review of that decision by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact Margaret Huang,
Business Advisor, Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand at [email address].
Yours sincerely
Nicola Hogg
General Manager – Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
