10 October 2024
A Smith
fyi‐request‐28402‐[email address]
DOIA‐REQ‐0003017
Tēnā koe A Smith
Thank you for your correspondence of 15 September 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
I would like to request all available information in the form of emails and other communications,
finalised or draft documents and projects related to any kind of complaints process for language
service providers (LSPs), translators and/or interpreters which has been developed, started to be
developed, has been planned and/or discussed, particularly since the creation of the Language
Assistance Services (LAS) project. I would like information about any accountability process
discussed to follow up on LSPs engaging NAATI interpreters first, meeting the conditions in their
agreements and following the LAS policy (whether the process has been implemented or not,
whether it is being planned, developed or disregarded).
I am writing to advise you that MBIE has decided to extend the period of time available to make a decision
on your request under section 15A(1)(a) of the Act, as the request necessitates a search through a large
quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the
operations of MBIE.
As such, a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. MBIE will notify you
of a decision on your request no later than 6 November 2024.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Jack Price
Manager Ministerial Services
Associate Deputy Secretary Immigration
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment