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See the latest news and announcements.

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  • Serious concerns about cruel and inhuman treatment at forensic facility

    Media release
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says he is seriously concerned about the use of seclusion at forensic units in the Wellington region.

  • Ombudsman launches investigation into MIQ booking system

    Media release
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is launching a broad investigation into the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) booking system after receiving hundreds of complaints.

  • Ombudsman’s 2020-2021 Annual Report published

    Media release
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has today published the 2020/2021 Annual Report.

    The report details the Ombudsman’s work over the past year against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • New LGOIMA calculator launched

    News article
    Issue date:

    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

    News article
    Issue date:

    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.

  • 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.

  • Delay in responding to OIA request

    News article
    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

    News article
    Issue date:

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

  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Autumn 2020

    News article
    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

    News article
    Issue date:

    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

    News article
    Issue date:

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

  • Chief Ombudsman’s term extended for five years

    News article
    Issue date:

    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

    News article
    Issue date:

    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.  

  • Training in the Pacific

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Fourteen representatives from seven Pacific Island countries will undertake Ombudsman investigator training in Fiji next week.
  • Living conditions for most Invercargill prisoners have improved

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Invercargill Prison is now cleaner, tidier and in better repair than it was three years ago and general living conditions for most prisoners have improved.
  • Ombudsman releases report on official information practice at the Treasury

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has completed his investigation into the way the Treasury works with Official Information Act requests.
  • Ombudsman releases latest LGOIMA practice investigations

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released two more investigations into how local authorities work with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA).
  • Chief Ombudsman releases final opinion on East Lake Trust/Regenerate Christchurch case

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has found that Regenerate Christchurch did not act unlawfully or unreasonably in relation to a complaint from the East Lake Trust regarding the Ōtākaro/Avon River Regeneration Area Plan.
  • Strategic intentions for 2019-23 released

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

    News article
    Issue date:
    In March, the Ministry of Justice announced a public consultation on matters relating to the Official Information Act.
  • Investigation completed into Callaghan Innovation

    Media release
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has completed his investigation into the way Callaghan Innovation handles Official Information Act requests.

  • 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.