13 August 2021
Ziyun (Evan) Wang
[FYI request #15977 email]
File No: DOIA 2122-0044
Dear Ziyun,
Thank you for your email of 5 July 2021, requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“I am writing to kindly seek the breakdown of approvals of Other Critical Worker ("OCW")
Border Exemption Requests to date by occupations and their associated industries.”
Our response
Please find below a table which breaks down the total number of border exceptions approved for
‘other critical workers’ and the industries they are associated with from 19 March 2020 to 14 July
2021. This includes ‘other essential worker’ requests prior to 18 June 2020.
For the avoidance of doubt, a single request can include multiple workers and/or family members.
Please note that any figures under five have been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA to protect
the privacy of natural persons.
Industry
Total
Manufacturing
253
Film/Television
200
Research & Development
180
Sport/Recreation
139
Education
129
Construction
127
Government
113
Primary - Agriculture
102
Energy
95
Primary - Fisheries
95
ICT/Digital
93
Services
86
Entertainment/Arts
85
Infrastructure
73
Oil & Gas
66
Primary - Veterinarians
66
Primary - Food Processing
54
Transport
54
Healthcare
44
Advisory/Consulting
40
Marine
34
Finance
20
Tourism/Hospitality
20
Import/Export
18
Retail
18
Primary
15
Primary - Horticulture
14
Primary - Mining
9
Primary - Forestry
6
Shipping
<=5
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.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact
[email address]
Yours sincerely
Nicola Hogg
General Manager
Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
