Resources for agencies
He rauemi mō ngā umanga
Search agency-specific guidance materials including template letters and worksheets.
Most used guidance:
- The OIA for Ministers and agencies
- The LGOIMA for local government agencies
- Managing unreasonable complainant conduct.
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107 Resources
Show allDraft guidance: Effective complaints handling for care providers
Good administrationWe are seeking feedback on a set of draft resources designed to support care providers in the Oranga Tamariki system with effective complaints handling across the Oranga Tamariki system.Phase 3 – ‘Nau-mai.nz user testing report’ (June 2025)
Projects, reference & dataThe researchers tested the Nau-mai.nz website and printed resources with 27 care-experienced young people aged 10–24 and 16 trusted adults.Checklist Guide for care providers
Good administrationThis checklist highlights seven key areas that support effective complaint-handling.Complaint handling process - overview
Good administrationThis complaint-handling overview can be adapted to your organisation to ensure a robust process is in place to receive, record, manage, resolve and report on complaints.Phase 2 – ‘Children’s voices’ (March 2021)
Projects, reference & dataIn the second phase, the researchers gathered insights directly from children and young people with care experience, as well as whānau and trusted adults. This included:Dealing with requests for personal information
Official informationThis is a guide to help central and local government agencies respond to requests for personal information.LGOIMA self-assessment tool
Official informationThis self-assessment tool is one of a number of initiatives from the Chief Ombudsman's office providing support and assistance to lift public sector capability in order to improve the administration, decision-making and compliance with official information legislation.Ex Gratia payments
Good administrationEx gratia payments are a form of discretionary spending and are made without the giver recognising any liability or legal obligation.Official information act guides and resources
FactsheetsA list of the official information support and resources referred to in The Chief Ombudsman’s reflections on the Official Information Act 1982.Good practice for Meetings and Workshops
Good administrationThis guide is to assist local government agencies including city, district and regional councils to define the differences between meetings and workshops and to outline the Ombudsman expectations of local government agencies when conducting workshops.Getting support and making a complaint in the Oranga Tamariki system
Pamphlets and postersA guide to advocacy, monitoring and complaints for tamariki (children), rangatahi (young people) and their whānau (family).OIA self-assessment tool
Official informationThis self-assessment tool is one of a number of initiatives from the Chief Ombudsman's office providing support and assistance to lift public sector capability in order to improve the administration, decision-making and compliance with official informatFAQs about official information requests during or following extreme emergency event
Official informationAccess to information is crucial both during, and in the aftermath of a significant regional or national emergency event.Chief Ombudsman's final opinion on Managed Isolation Allocation System
OpinionsFinal opinion on Managed Isolation Allocation SystemChecklist: Protecting whistleblower confidentiality
Protected Disclosures ActThis checklist will assist if you or your organisation has received a protected disclosure about serious wrongdoing in your workplace.Protected disclosures – guidance on internal policies and procedures
Guides, Protected Disclosures ActIf your organisation is looking to encourage an open reporting culture, or is currently grappling with how to handle a protected disclosure by one of your employees about serious wrongdoing in your workplace, the Ombudsman can provide guidance.Chief Ombudsman reaffirms his OPCAT Statement of Principles for places of detention during COVID-19 ‘lock down’
GuidesAs Aotearoa New Zealand is experiencing another nationwide Alert Level 4 lockdown, the Chief Ombudsman reaffirms his statement of principles, issued last year.Confidentiality: A guide to section 9(2)(ba) of the OIA and section 7(2)(c) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the confidentiality withholding ground found in section 9(2)(ba) of the OIA and section 7(2)(c) of the LGOIMA.Privacy: A guide to section 9(2)(a) of the OIA and section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the privacy withholding ground found in section 9(2)(a) of the OIA and section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA.Proactive release: Good practices for proactive release of official information
Official informationThis guide:Processing requests for names of public sector employees work sheet
Worksheets and other resourcesThe Ombudsman’s general position is that there is usually no basis for withholding staff names if all that would be revealed is what they did in their official capacity. However, withholding staff names may be justified in particular circumstances.Your OIA rights and responsibilities
SpeechesOn 13 July, Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier addressed around 800 delegates at the New Zealand School Trustees Association’s annual conference. Here is his speech.The OIA for Ministers and agencies: A guide to processing official information requests
Official informationThe purpose of this guide is to assist Ministers and government agencies in recognising and responding to requests for official information under the OIA.The LGOIMA for local government agencies: A guide to processing requests and conducting meetings
Official informationThe purpose of this guide is to assist local government agencies in recognising and responding to requests for official information under the LGOIMA.Making official information requests: A guide for requesters
Official informationIf you are seeking information from a Minister, or central or local government agency, you may be able to ask for it under either the OIA or LGOIMA.Requests for internal decision making rules: A guide to section 22 of the OIA and section 21 of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to requests made under section 22 of the OIA (section 21 of the LGOIMA).Requests for reasons for a decision or recommendation: A guide to section 23 of the OIA and section 22 of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to requests made under section 23 of the OIA (section 22 of the LGOIMA).Template letter 1: Acknowledgement letter
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this template letter to acknowledge receipt of a request for official information.Requests by corporate entities for their personal information: A guide to Part 4 of the OIA and LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to Part 4 requests made under the OIA and LGOIMA.Template letter 2: Letter seeking clarification or amendment of request
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter if you need to seek clarification or amendment of a request for official information.Requests made online: A guide to requests made through fyi.org.nz and social media
Official informationThis guide deals with OIA and LGOIMA requests made through fyi.org.nz (FYI) and social media websites like Twitter and Facebook.Template letter 3: Transfer letter to requester
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to inform the requester that you have had to transfer some or all of their request to another agency subject to the OIA or LGOIMA.