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  • Use your right to know: Chief Ombudsman

    Media release
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says it is alarming that awareness of the Official Information Act and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act has declined for the second year in a row.

  • It’s your Right to Know

    News article
    Issue date:

    Today is International Right to Know Day.

    As New Zealand’s Chief Ombudsman, it is one of the most significant dates in my calendar.

  • Final opinion on Taihape Area School’s complaint over its farm

    News article
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has recommended the Ministry of Education apologise to the Taihape Area School community and board of trustees over its handling of a farm that was bought by the former Taihape College and local community.

  • OIA complaints rise in six months

    Media release
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released the latest Official Information Act and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act complaints data.

  • New case note—information about COVID-19 clusters

    News article
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman has published a case note on a complaint about a request for information about the names of COVID-19 clusters linked to cases in the Bay of Plenty District.

  • Mental health units not to be used for long term accommodation, says Ombudsman

    Media release
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman today released a report identifying another mental health unit in the Auckland region in which people are staying longer than clinically needed.

  • New guidance—the OIA’s confidentiality withholding ground

    News article
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman has published a new guide today on the OIA’s confidentiality withholding ground.

    The OIA says that information must be made available unless there is a good reason not to.

  • New privacy guide and case notes

    News article
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman has published a new guide today on the OIA’s privacy withholding ground.

    The OIA says that information must be made available unless there is a good reason not to.

  • OIA calculator back online

    News article
    Issue date:

    The OIA calculator is back online.

    Thank you for your patience while we addressed the issues in the previous version.

    OIA calculator

  • Chief Ombudsman announces advisory group of rangatira

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman, Peter Boshier, announced today the establishment of a panel of Māori advisers made up of prominent experts and rangatahi leaders.
  • Chief Ombudsman revisits Not a game of hide and seek

    Media release
    Issue date:
    The Chief Ombudsman is launching a new inquiry into whether central government agencies have addressed any weaknesses identified in a landmark investigation five years ago.
  • OIA and LGOIMA requests over the holidays

    News article
    Issue date:
    By law, when you ask an agency for official information they have to respond to your request as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 20 working days after they got it.
  • Tauranga and Porirua City Councils in next round of LGOIMA practice investigations

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has announced a further two self-initiated investigations into the official information practices of selected councils.
  • Changes to the LGOIMA, including ‘working day’ definition

    News article
    Issue date:

    Changes to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) which came into effect on 21 March 2019 will affect ‘working day’ calculations for LGOIMA.

  • Message from the Chief Ombudsman - 19 March 2019

    News article
    Issue date:

    Last Friday’s attacks in Christchurch have shaken us all to the core.

    To the people of Christchurch and to all those who have lost loved ones, my thoughts are with you. Kia kaha.

  • Latest OIA data released by the Ombudsman – LGOIMA data to be released in September

    Media release
    Issue date:
    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier today released his latest Official Information Act data, which shows a 34% rise in complaints received by his office since the data was first published two-and-a-half years ago.
  • Free and frank advice and the Official Information Act

    News article
    Issue date:
    How do we strike the right balance between enabling confidential consideration of free and frank advice, and enabling the public to access official information to support open government? Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier discusses in a new Victoria University Policy Quarterly article.
  • 30 years of the OIA in NZ

    Media release
    Issue date:
    30 years ago today, on 1 July 1983, the Official Information Act (OIA) came into force.