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October 2019 | Read a plain text version of this newsletter
Message from the Registrar-General
Tēnā koe – hello.
As you will know from our previous newsletters, we at the Department of Internal Affairs have been working on a new way for customers to apply for New Zealand Citizenship. I’m pleased to let you know that as of 9 October, a new online service is now available for adult customers wanting to apply for Citizenship by Grant.
We want to make the journey to becoming a New Zealander as simple as possible and taking the application process online means it’s now faster and easier than ever to apply for citizenship.
Jeff Montgomery,
General Manager and Registrar-General;
Services and Access
This means that Citizenship by Grant customers can apply and pay online, and securely submit electronic copies of their documents to an online portal. This is a significant improvement from the previous service, where customers have had to send paper forms and important identity documents (like birth certificates and passports) via mail, or attend an interview at one of our offices.
This service is open to adult customers first (around 14,000 of 35,000 applications we receive each year) and will extend to groups, children, and Samoan citizen customers next year. Customers can apply at www.govt.nz/citizenship.
As part of this work, we are also improving how we support you in managing and delivering ceremonies and want your input into this as we progress. In this newsletter, there is a short questionnaire which we would appreciate you completing. Secondly, we are keen to understand your views on potential changes to the email invitation for ceremonies.
We will continue to keep you updated as we progress.
Kia pai tō rā (Have a good day)
Jeff
Questionnaire to help us improve services
We want to understand your views on ceremony invitations, delivering the oath or affirmation in Te Reo Maori, what resources you need and information on seating plans.
There are only a few questions, which shouldn't take longer than 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Your responses will help us improve the services that we offer to councils to support provision of citizenship ceremonies.
Your feedback: Format for invitation by email
In the September issue we mentioned that we will be providing customers with an email invitation to their ceremony. This means that some customers may bring their email to a ceremony with them rather than a letter. Below is a detailed explanation of the email design.
We’d like to get your feedback on the design. Please email your questions, comments or concerns about the new template to Arne.Murray@dia.govt.nz by Friday 25 October.
- We will include the name and title of the officiator of the ceremony.
- This section is where the customer will get the information about the ceremony, and their seat - if your venue has a seating plan.
- If there is something else that you need attendees to know (e.g. to bring a religious book with them) you can include that in this section.
- We will set the default number of seats at 2 per invitee/family - but you can change this if you need to for your venue.
- If you require an RSVP, we will print the details in this section.
- These are things that customers generally need to know about their ceremony.
Support to councils after local body elections
If your incoming mayor requires a briefing on the services provided by our office to help support the council's delivery of citizenship ceremonies, email CitizenshipCeremonies@dia.govt.nz to receive a copy of our NZ Citizenship Ceremonies Planning Guide.
Ceremony delivered by Wairoa District Council
From L-R: Nora Lee, Milia Kushner, Sara Mason, Douglas Mason – Mayor Craig Little.
Ceremony delivered by Masterton District Council
Photograph from the Wairarapa Times Age from the ceremony on 8 August, which was held at the Te Rangimarie marae, Masterton.
Ceremony delivered by Carterton District Council
Carterton’s new Citizens; Shirley, Nevengka, Marie-Claire, Lee and their friends and families with Mayor John Booth.
