The Minister of Immigration has wide powers to issue "special directions", which are instructions that are given to Immigration New Zealand. These instructions may direct Immigration New Zealand to grant a visa outside the normal rules that are in force. They may also direct that an application or request be decided in a certain way. The Minister may also cancel or suspend a person's deportation liability, or their exclusion from New Zealand. Whether or not the Minister decides to grant a special direction is at their "absolute discretion". This means the Minister is not obliged to consider any request for a special direction, and if the request is refused, the Minister is not obliged to provide any reasons for doing so. In general, the Minister's office expects a person requesting a special direction to have exhausted all available avenues prior to making their request.