5 August 2024
45 Pipitea Street, Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 495 7200
dia.govt.nz
Anna Buchanan
fyi-request-27542-
[email address]
Tēnā koe Anna
OIA request 24/25 0040 Request for information on citizenship applications currently under
review by the Minister
Thank you for your Official Information Act (Act) request received by the Department of Internal
Affairs (Department) on 9 July 2024.
You requested –
1. Could you please explain the process of preparing a citizenship application for the
minister's review and submission?
2. Who evaluates citizenship applications? Specifically, which advisors are involved, and on
what basis do they provide recommendations, particularly for cases that fall under
special circumstances?
3. How many advisors are currently employed in the department for this purpose?
4. How long does it typically take to prepare an application for the minister's review, and
what is the average duration for the minister to make a decision based on the reviewed
cases over the past three years?
5. How many applications are currently awaiting the minister's review, and which is the
oldest application pending?
In response to your request, I can provide you with the following information.
Most of the information you have requested is already available via proactively released Official
Information Act (OIA) responses on the Department’s website - www.dia.govt.nz/Official-
Information-Act-Requests-2. Links to these responses have been provided below.
Question One
This information is already available on the Department’s website via OIA response
2324-0823.
Therefore, I must refuse this portion of your request under section 18(d) of the Act; that the
information requested is or will soon be publicly available
Question Two
This information is already available on the Department’s website via OIA response
2324-0781.
Therefore, I must refuse this portion of your request under section 18(d) of the Act; that the
information requested is or will soon be publicly available
Questions Three and Four
This information is already available on the Department’s website via OIA response
2324-0908.
Therefore, I must refuse this portion of your request under section 18(d) of the Act; that the
information requested is or will soon be publicly available
It may be helpful to explain that reviewing submission reports are but one aspect of a Service
Advice and Support advisor’s duties at the Department. As per respons
e 2324-0908, there are
several parties involved in preparing, reviewing and deciding on a submission, prior to it going to
the Minister’s office for consideration.
I can advise that the average duration for the Minister to make a decision over the past three
years was 12 days.
Question Five
I can advise there are currently two applications awaiting the Minister’s review. The oldest of
these applications was lodged on 3 October 2021.
There is a lot of publicly available information online about citizenship and the timeframes for
processing citizenship applications on the Department’s website
www.dia.govt.nz/Official-
Information-Act-Requests-2 via proactively published OIA responses. You can use the search the
responses by using ‘ctrl’ + ‘f’ and typing ‘citizenship’ in the search field.
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. All requestor data,
including your name and contact details, will be removed prior to release. The released
response will be made available here:
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.
Ngā mihi
John Crawford-Smith
Principal Advisor Operations
Service Delivery and Operations
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