News

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has today released his opinion on a complaint from a radio journalist against the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac).

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has today released his final report to Parliament.

Pūhara Mana Tangata, the Chief Ombudsman’s Māori Panel, has today released a report celebrating its work and achievements over the past two years.

Outgoing Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says stiffer penalties may be needed for government agencies that persistently delay the release of official information.

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has published his half-yearly data on Official Information Act (OIA) and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) complaints.

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is concerned that people can be placed in secure aged care facilities in New Zealand without the proper legal authority.

On 19 September 2023, the Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier received a complaint from a person representing people in Havelock North who were affected by the flood caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

New Zealand’s Chief Ombudsman and the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia signed the bilateral arrangement in Jakarta on Monday.

Today Parliament recommended that the Governor-General appoint John Allen as the new Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand. 

When a person makes a request for official information, the agency generally must respond to the request as soon as reasonably practicable, and no later than 20 working days after the request is made.

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier today published the updated version of his International Development and Engagement Strategy. 

This builds from the first IDE strategy that covered from July 2020 to December 2023. 

The Chief Ombudsman says the Department of Corrections must stop the way it’s running the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit (PERU) because the unit’s prisoners are being ill-treated.

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has published his final opinion on a complaint about the refusal of Ministers Hon Shane Jones, Hon Simeon Brown and Hon Chris Bishop to release phone messages related to their roles.

The Chief Ombudsman says the Ministry of Social Development has failed to justify the amount paid to survivors of abuse in care, describing benchmark payments as “arbitrary and unreasonable”.

The Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC), comprising Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen from around Australia and New Zealand, held their bi-annual meeting in Adelaide on 1 November 2024. 

The Ombudsman has published a new learning resource aimed at teaching children and young people in primary and secondary schools and kura about the Ombudsman, their rights and how they can contribute to a fair and just society.

The Chief Ombudsman has referred record keeping issues identified during his investigation into an official information complaint against Associate Health Minister Casey Costello to the Chief Archivist.

The Chief Ombudsman’s latest self-initiated investigations into official information practices will include two council-controlled organisations for the first time.

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has published his half-yearly data on Official Information Act (OIA) and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) complaints.

Read about the work we have been doing such as:

The Chief Ombudsman is excited to announce the return of the Summer Internship Programme in partnership with Te Tari o te Kiingitanga, now in its fifth year.

The Chief Ombudsman is concerned some school boards are failing to act fairly when children are facing disciplinary action, decisions on enrolment or other decisions that affect their education.

Whistleblowing is on the rise with a growing number of people going to the Ombudsman to report serious wrongdoing in their workplace and seeking advice about making protected disclosures.

In this issue:

The Chief Ombudsman says failures by the New Zealand Defence Force to share all crucial information had a major impact on his ability to fully investigate earlier Operation Burnham complaints and undermined the fundamental purposes of the OIA.

Continuing on with New Zealand Sign Language Week 2024, the Office of the Ombudsman has commissioned a series of videos explaining the OIA and providing advice and guidance for in those in Deaf community using the Act to seek information from government

Under the Disability Convention disabled people have the right to reasonable accommodation.

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week is a yearly event organised by Deaf Aotearoa to raise awareness of the language and culture of New Zealand’s Deaf community.