24 February 2025
OIA24-189
Kieran Pegler
[FYI request #29541 email]
Tēnā koe Kieran,
Thank you for your email of 13 December 2024 to my office in which you requested the
following information under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act):
‘1) Al advice to you from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) on Candace Owens;
2) Al information received by you or INZ about Candace Owens from those
representing or assisting her with her request for a special direction that she be
granted a visa;
3) Al information provided to INZ or you from Candace Owens or her
representatives;
4) Al information about Candace Owens received by you or INZ from other NZ
government departments;
5) Al information about Candace Owens you or INZ received from 3rd parties outside
government.’
You wil be aware that on 19 December 2024, my office advised you that we had partially
transferred parts 2, 3, 4 and 5, as it relates to items held by Immigration New Zealand (INZ),
to INZ to provide a response under section 14(b)(i ) of the Act.
On 29 January 2025, you were advised that an extension is required to make a decision on
your request under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, as consultations were necessary as such
that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time
limit. I am pleased to advise that I am now in a position to respond.
My office has undertaken a records search and identified the following documents in scope
of your request:
# Description
1. Email - Case for AMOI’s consideration
Dated – 6 December 2024
2. Free Speech Union - CANDACE OWENS FARMER | REQUEST FOR SPECIAL
DIRECTION
Dated – 29 November 2024-5 December 2024
3. Candace Owens: Appeal letter to Australian Immigration Minister
Dated – 5 December 2024
4. Free Speech Union - CANDACE OWENS FARMER | REQUEST FOR SPECIAL
DIRECTION
Dated – 29 November 2024-2 December 2024
5. Free Speech Union - CANDACE OWENS FARMER | REQUEST FOR SPECIAL
DIRECTION
Dated – 29 November 2024-2 December 2024
6. Free Speech Union - CANDACE OWENS FARMER | REQUEST FOR SPECIAL
DIRECTION
Dated – 29 November 2024
7. FW_ Free Speech Union - CANDACE OWENS FARMER _ REQUEST FOR SPECIAL
DIRECTION
Dated – 29 November 2024-2 December 2024
8. Candace Owens: Appeal letter to Australian Immigration Minister
Dated – 5 December 2024
9. Immigration Ministerial intervention request - Candace Owens Farmer
Dated – 12 December 2024
10.
FARMER Candace Owens– letters
Dated – 11 December 2024
11.
Candace Owens - AMOI decision
Dated – 12 December 2024
12.
Candace Owens - media lines - Due 10am 12/11/2024 [
Withheld in full under section
9(2)(g)(i)]
Dated – 11 - 12 December 2024
13.
Free Speech Union - Immigration New Zealand follows Australia’s appalling example
Dated – 27 November
14.
Candace Owens barred from entry into New Zealand.
Dated – 28 November 2024
Additionally, I have decided to provide a summary of my communications with the Free
Speech Union that fall within scope of your request, in accordance with section 16(e) of the
Act:
Date
Summary
27 November 2024, 9:11PM
Jonathan Ayling texted me raising concerns
regarding INZ’s decision to bar Candace Owens
and requested a meeting to discuss the matter
further.
27 November 2024, 10:11PM
I responded to Mr Ayling via text message asking
if we can speak by phone in the first instance. I
also confirmed that I have yet to receive an
intervention request from Candace Owens.
28 November 2024, 9:32AM
I texted Mr Ayling asking if I can give him a cal
back after missing a call from him. He
subsequently responded with a confirmation.
28 November 2024, 1:01PM
During a phone call, FSU advised me of Ms
Owens’ original application having been declined
and on what legal basis, including INZ reliance on
the decision by Australian government that would
be appealed.
2 December 2024, 12:42PM
I advised FSU via phone cal that if I were to
engage with FSU on Ms Owens’ mat er, having
received the Ministerial intervention request they
filed on her behalf as stated above, I would need
to be satisfied that they have received Ms Owens’
authority to act on her behalf.
I have decided to withhold some information in accordance with the following sections of the
Act:
• 6(c), as making the information available would likely prejudice the maintenance
of the law,
• 9(2)(a), to protect the privacy of natural persons,
• 9(2)(g)(i), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and
frank expression of opinions,
• 9(2)(g)(i ), to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection
of such Ministers, members of organisations, officers, and employees from
improper pressure or harassment; and
• 9(2)(h), to maintain legal privilege.
Some information has also been marked as out of scope or duplicates as indicated in the
appendix. These pages have been omit ed from the final pack for ease of use.
I am satisfied that these withholdings are not outweighed by public interest considerations in
making the information available.
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 nui,
Hon Chris Penk
Associate Minister of Immigration
