So I've been reading the official information requests to MBIE on fyi.org.nz (https://fyi.org.nz/body/mbie) and came across the following, where someone asked for official numbers of SMC and RFW applications in the onshore queue. Official correspondence: https://fyi.org.nz/request/14368/res...%20Dhillon.pdf
What surprised me is the number of SMC applications in the queue dates back to 2019, while the RFW dates back to only December 2020. INZ have mentioned that there are no separate queues, but SMC and RFW are now processed from one queue, based on priority or non-priority. See tables below:
Are the RFW categories processed first, even though they are not priority? Why does it only date back to Dec 2020 in the queue? Unless the data is wrong, or interpreted incorrectly on my part. They do say 'awaiting decisions' so maybe this means those that are being processed currently.
1. SMC applications in queue
SMC.jpg
2. RFW applications in queue
RFW.jpg