This is an Irish story. It’s not one of those anecdotes that denigrates Irish intelligence for a laugh. It’s a true story about an Irishman who wanted to apply for New Zealand citizenship.

He applied to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was notified that the Ministry required his passport and birth certificate. He went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with his passport and birth certificate in hand.

He deposited these papers on the counter in front of the staffer and asked what else he was required to do by way of applying for citizenship.

The staffer was clearly thrown at the sight of a passport and birth certificate on the counter in front of him. He told the Irishman that these papers had to be sent by registered mail. Bringing them to the Ministry by person was not the done thing.

There was a system to go through and the staffer was in no position to sidestep this system, so would the Irishman please take his passport an birth certificate away, put them in a registered envelope and mail them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Irishman said there was no need to do any such thing when here he was in person with the papers.

The staffer’s response was a mind-boggler: "If you use registered mail you know for certain they’ve arrived at our office."

The Irishman glanced down at the relevant papers on the counter between him and the staffer. The staffer also glanced at them.

"They’ve arrived safely." The Irishman pointed to them. "There they are in front of you."

It made no difference. The staffer was still unhappy with the Irishman’s unconventional and inconsiderate behaviour.

Unfortunately for the staffer, neither the Irishman nor his papers were going to leave.

The staffer had no choice but to give in to this awkward customer, who was left in no doubt that this was an exception which could not, must not, occur again.