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Senior Immigration NZ executive Steve Cantlon handled the task personally, taking oversight of the case, and as it progressed, Cooper made sure he copied Cantlon in when writing emails to staff handling the paperwork for his wealthy client. Securing residency would be no easy task, Cooper wrote on February 19, describing his client as a billionaire businessman known to New Zealand diplomatic staff in Hong Kong. He suggested Immigration NZ provide a tourist permit so Dotcom could enter the country when he arrived by private jet in two weeks time. Dotcom was "media shy", he wrote, asking Immigration NZ to handle matters carefully and quietly.

Cooper also raised the awkward fact Dotcom had entered the country on two previous occasions without declaring his convictions, a breach of entry requirements. This was not Dotcom's fault, he explained, because the arrival card was filled in by others working for him. Now the convictions were declared, it raised the possibility of embarrassment for Dotcom were he to be challenged at the border.

"How Immigration NZ chooses to handle this matter will determine if we keep this man interested in NZ," wrote Cooper. "With his wealth, he has the option to go anywhere in the world."

Cantlon emailed staff three days later to say he had spoken with Cooper at length about Dotcom. "I feel, as does David, that it is in New Zealand's interest to facilitate his entry into New Zealand," he wrote. Dotcom was almost immediately granted a tourist visa for one year allowing him to come and go from New Zealand. The tourist visa required a "special direction" before it was granted because of Dotcom's convictions, meaning it needed approval from a senior Immigration NZ official rather than being processed through the agency's normal staff. In keeping with Immigration NZ's desire to attract Dotcom to New Zealand, other special steps were put in place for Dotcom's arrival on 5 March by private jet. Cantlon smoothed the way through arrival procedures, asking staff to "please put in place whatever steps are needed to allow Mr (Dotcom) and (wife Mona) relatively smooth entry into NZ" for visits on their tourist visas. The issue of Dotcom's convictions could be avoided with a short letter addressed to Customs, noting the special circumstances, which would avoid any problems. Another official later noted that the fee, usually hundreds of dollars, was "waived in the interests of excellent customer service".

Dotcom came and went. The section in the Immigration NZ documents which sought information about onward travel noted: "He is travelling on a private plane. Otherwise he has shown evidence that he has sufficient funds." An ANZ Bank statement was sent in with a balance of $240,624 to cover the duration of the visitor's permit — the form noted "$8000 will meet this requirement".

But concerns were clear inside Immigration NZ. Gareth Grigg, the

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