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See the latest news and announcements.

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  • Police delay in responding to OIA request

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    Police failed to advise a requester of its decision on an Official Information Act (OIA) request as early as it could have because of its practice of advising the Police Minister three working days in advance of decisions on certain requests.

  • Ministry of Health entitled to withhold information under OIA

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    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has formed an opinion that the public interest did not outweigh reasons to withhold information requested under the Official Information Act from the Ministry of Health about the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

  • Chief Ombudsman Māori panel's inaugural report

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    The Chief Ombudsman’s Māori panel – Pūhara Mana Tangata – has published a report of its first two years in operation.

  • New case note: Requests for information deemed vexatious

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    The Chief Ombudsman has published a case note on an investigation following a complaint by a requester about a number of refusals by Inland Revenue to provide information.

  • New LGOIMA calculator launched

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    Today the Chief Ombudsman has launched an online calculator that will make it easier for you, and local government agencies, to estimate the maximum timeframe for responding to an official information request.

  • Statement from Chief Ombudsman regarding MIQ complaints

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    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has issued the following statement on his consideration of complaints about the managed isolation and allocation system and border-related issues.

  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Autumn 2021

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    Our latest OQR is out.

    In this issue:

  • Final opinion on HDC complaints

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    An opinion by the Chief Ombudsman has found that the handling of three separate complaints by the former Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) was unreasonable.

  • First full inspection of Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre

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    The Chief Ombudsman has released his report on an unannounced inspection of Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989.

  • Ombudsman marks New Zealand Sign Language Week with new resources

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    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released a series of New Zealand Sign Language resources to coincide with the start of New Zealand Sign Language Week 2021, today.

  • Delay in responding to OIA request

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    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman has published a new case note today on an OIA delay complaint.

    Antarctica New Zealand responded to an OIA request well outside the extended deadline, and only after the Chief Ombudsman began an investigation.

  • New case note—Consultation on health and safety plans for Managed Isolation Facility

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    The Chief Ombudsman has published a case note on his investigation of complaints by Stamford Plaza residents.

  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Autumn 2020

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    Issue date:

    Our latest OQR is out. In this issue:

    how our Office responded to lockdown COVID-19 inspections of prisons and care homes complaints resolution—avoiding a backlog Chief Ombudsman’s term renewed.
  • Independent oversight to ensure the rights of disabled people are upheld during the COVID-19 pandemic

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    The Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) is made up of the Disabled People’s Organisations’ Coalition, the Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman.

  • New case notes released today

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    Some interesting OIA issues are covered in new case notes published by the Chief Ombudsman today.

  • Chief Ombudsman’s term extended for five years

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    Parliament has agreed to extend Peter Boshier’s appointment  as Chief Ombudsman for another five years.

    In the Chamber, the Leader of the House, Chris Hipkins highlighted Mr Boshier’s efforts to resolve complaints in a timely way.

  • COVID-19: The duty to document does not cease in a crisis, it becomes more essential

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    The Chief Ombudsman joins his international counterparts in their call for documentation, preservation and access to information as governments, businesses and citizens deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.  

  • Strategic intentions for 2019-23 released

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    The Chief Ombudsman's Strategic Intentions document for 2019-23 has now been released.
  • Chief Ombudsman’s submission on OIA consultation

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    In March, the Ministry of Justice announced a public consultation on matters relating to the Official Information Act.
  • Free and frank advice and the Official Information Act

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    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.