6 March 2024
Chris
[FYI request #25642 email]
DOIA 2324-1666
Tēnā koe Chris
Thank you for your email of 7 February 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the fol owing:
How many North Korea defectors living in New Zealand.
If a North Korea person escaped and come to New Zealand wil they be sent back to North
Korea or are they welcome here
Our Response
Question: How many North Korea defectors living in New Zealand
On 16 February 2024, we attempted to contact you to clarify whether your request was relating to
asylum claims made by North Korean nationals. We have not received a response from you to date.
We can advise that there are 8 North Korean nationals in New Zealand, as at 13 February 2024. MBIE
does not hold information on whether visa holders living in New Zealand from North Korea (or any
other country) are ‘defectors’ as this information is not collected by MBIE as part of the visa application
process. Therefore, your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act, as the information is not
held by MBIE, and we have no reason to believe that the information is held by another department
or interdepartmental venture or Minister of the Crown or organisation.
However, I can direct you to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal which publishes appeal decision
information on ‘defectors’ from North Korea. The current location of these clients is not known.
Refugee/Protection Decisions (justice.govt.nz)
Question: If a North Korea person escaped and come to New Zealand wil they be sent back to North
Korea or are they welcome here
We note that this part of your request does not appear to be a request for official information as
defined in section 2 of the Act. However, we can advise that in order for a person to be able to enter
New Zealand they must either be travelling from a visa wavier country and hold a valid New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) or hold an appropriate valid visa. People attempting to enter New
Zealand without proper authorisation may be refused entry upon arrival.
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The Immigration New Zealand website contains information on the requirements for all foreign
nationals before travelling to New Zealand:
Before you travel to New Zealand | Immigration New
Zealand.
North Korean nationals who meet visa requirements and are granted visas are entitled to stay in New
Zealand under the conditions of the visa they hold.
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 a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further
assistance, please contact
[email address]
Nāku noa, nā
Jeannie Melville
Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
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