19 August 2021
Wilson Blair
By email:
[FYI request #16311 email]
File No: DOIA 2122-0272
Dear Wilson
Thank you for your email of 5 August 2021 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,
requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“
how many people have applied for residences under skilled migrant for Chorus
(Telecommunications Technicians UFB) occupation as the fibre rollout is about to end in nz.
Are this people are considered as genuine sustainable employees??”
Our response
Between 1 August 2017 and 5 August 2021, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have not received any
applications for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category for ANZSCO Code 342414
(Telecommunications Technicians) with Chorus Limited as the employer.
I note that your request relates to the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) Programme. Information
specifically relating to migrants who have worked on the UFB Programme is not held in a reportable
format. To provide this information for you would require INZ to manually check the records for
every Skilled Migrant Category visa application and their employer, or the employer they had a job
offer from, to determine if a person employed as Telecommunications Technician is working on the
UFB Programme. Your request is therefore refused under section 18(f) of the OIA, as the information
requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.
I have considered whether the Ministry would be able to respond to your request given extra time
or the ability to charge for the information requested. I have concluded that, in both cases, the
Ministry’s ability to undertake its work would still be compromised.
I have also considered whether consulting with you would assist you to make the request in a form
that would remove the reason for the refusal, but in my view it would not.
Information about the definition of sustainable employment is available on our website at:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/visa-paks/2014-aug-29-changes-to-definition-of-
201congoing-and-sustainable-employment
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
