Open main menu Close main menu

News

Rongo kōrero

See the latest news and announcements.

You can also subscribe to our newsletters to get updates in your inbox.

  • 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.

  • Ombudsman releases access to government information survey

    Media release
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says too many New Zealanders are still unaware of their rights to request information from Ministers, government agencies, and councils despite a growing thirst for information by the public.

  • New case note - early assistance in name change case

    News article
    Issue date:

    A new case note illustrates the impact that the Intake and Early Assistance Team can have. This team is the first point of contact for people seeking the Ombudsman’s help.

  • Latest OIA, LGOIMA data released

    Media release
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released the latest Official Information Act (OIA) and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) data[1].

  • Well-managed complaints increase customer trust: Australian research

    News article
    Issue date:

    New Australian research has been released into how public organisations manage complaints.

  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Winter 2020

    News article
    Issue date:

    Our latest OQR is out.

    In this issue:

  • 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.  

  • 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.
  • New complaints handling research announced

    News article
    Issue date:

    We’re helping with research by the University of Newcastle Australia into the benefits of good complaints handling in public sector organisations.

  • Hawke’s Bay prisoners’ conditions and treatment improving

    Media release
    Issue date:
    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison has made significant progress towards improving prisoners’ safety but has been slow to improve conditions for remand and at risk prisoners.
  • Chief Ombudsman releases opinion on Auckland Council complaint

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has asked Auckland Council to apologise to Radio New Zealand over the way the Council dealt with a request for official information.
  • Chief Ombudsman welcomes Christchurch City Council information release

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has welcomed today’s decision by the Christchurch City Council to release the information regarding the cost of the digital touch-wall in its new library.
  • 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.