Bilateral arrangement signed with the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia

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

The Ombudsman Cooperation and Support Arrangement was signed by Peter Boshier and his Indonesian counterpart Chairman Mokhammad Najih at a ceremony in Indonesia. 

Mr Boshier says the role of an Ombudsman is to protect people against the violation of their rights, the abuse of power, unfair decisions and maladministration.

“Ombudsmen are the watchdogs of democracy and this arrangement symbolises our joint commitment to fairness for all.  It also strengthens our bond and the decades-long friendship between our two countries,” Mr Boshier says.

Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia Chairman Mokhammad Najih says: "Today, we are not just signing an agreement, we are embarking on a journey. A journey towards greater accountability, improved public services, and a stronger commitment to serving the needs of our citizens."

“We are eager to learn from the experience of the New Zealand Ombudsman, and we are confident that this partnership will be mutually beneficial. Together, we can achieve more than we could alone,” Mr Najih says.

A joint technical working group will be set up to create an action plan for sharing knowledge and expertise and working together on areas of mutual interest. The group will explore training and coaching opportunities, knowledge and information sharing, and cultural activities. 

“In making this commitment to the bilateral arrangement we are both doing our part to strengthen the reputation of Ombudsmen around the world, improve international best practice and build local capabilities,” said Mr Boshier, who is also second International Vice President of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).

“Working closely together can only enhance the cultural understanding between our two nations and help us support people from each other’s countries should they ever need our services.”

The New Zealand Ombudsman already has similar arrangements in place with Thailand, the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu; and bilateral support programmes with Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands Ombudsman’s offices, and deliver regional activities across the Indo-Pacific as part of the Chief Ombudsman’s International Development and Engagement Strategy.

The Indonesia Ombudsman has arrangements with Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and the Russia Federation Ombudsman’s offices. 

The New Zealand and Indonesian Ombudsmen are also engaged in joint efforts within the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF) to enhance public complaint resolution and create effective mechanisms for addressing cross-border public service complaints.