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See the latest news and announcements.

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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.

  • Our new website is live. Find out what's changed.

    News article
    Issue date:
    Find out what's changed or improved on our new website.
  • Chief Ombudsman: new report ‘wakeup call’ for council leaders

    Media release
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman says his latest report into official information practice at local authorities is a wakeup call for all council leaders about the importance of an open and transparent workplace culture – and their accountability for achieving that.

  • Next round of LGOIMA practice investigations underway

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has commenced another round of self-initiated investigations into the official information practices of selected councils.
  • Chief Ombudsman releases opinion concerning Let's Get Wellington Moving letter

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier today released his Final Opinion on a complaint about the withholding of a letter written by Green MP and Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter.
  • OPCAT aged care inspections programme information published

    News article
    Issue date:

    One of the Chief Ombudsman’s roles is to check on the treatment and conditions of people held in secure facilities – places people can’t leave even if they want to.

  • 2018/2019 Annual Report released

    News article
    Issue date:

    Our annual report is now online and it shows what we’ve been doing over the past year to improve how we handle your complaints and protect your rights to request information.

  • Annual Report highlights a pleasing year

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Public sector agencies are increasingly making use of advice and resources from the Ombudsman.
  • Ombudsman releases Community attitudes towards freedom of information survey

    Media release
    Issue date:
    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says too many New Zealanders are unaware of their rights to request information from Ministers, government agencies and 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.
  • 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.
  • Chief Ombudsman 'very disappointed' by double-bunking decision

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman releases OPCAT report for Arohata Upper Prison.
  • New guides – ‘Good government’ withholding grounds

    News article
    Issue date:
    The Chief Ombudsman has published a suite of new guides on the ‘good government’ withholding grounds under the OIA and LGOIMA.
  • Ombudsman releases latest OIA data

    Media release
    Issue date:
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released the latest data on OIA complaints received and completed by his Office.