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See the latest news and announcements.

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  • The right to operate with independence

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    Ombudsmen across Australasia and the Pacific gathered last month at Te Whanganui-a-Tara, where Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier co-hosted the Australasian and Pacific Ombudsman Region (APOR) conference and the annual Members’ meeting on 13 and 14 October 2

  • New case note—information about COVID-19 clusters

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    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.

  • New guidance—the OIA’s confidentiality withholding ground

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    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

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    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.

  • First children in care case notes published

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    Five case notes published today concern complaints about children in care, and how these were resolved. 

  • New guide on proactive release

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    One of the purposes of the Official Information Act (OIA) is to make official information increasingly available to the NZ public.

  • Integrity doesn’t stop at the border

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    A Memorandum of Understanding signed this week sets out how the New Zealand and Thai Ombudsmen will work together for good governance, integrity and human rights across the Asia and Pacific regions.
  • Chief Ombudsman releases new case note on chief executive remuneration

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    The Chief Ombudsman has published a new summary of his investigation into the State Services Commission (SSC)’s decision to withhold information about public service chief executive remuneration.

  • International Right To Know Day coming up on 28 September

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    Information Access Commissioners and Ombudsmen from across Australia and New Zealand are urging government agencies to do more to make information available for the benefit of citizens.

  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review - Winter 2019

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    Our newest OQR is out. In this issue:

  • 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.
  • Changes to the LGOIMA, including ‘working day’ definition

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    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

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    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.

  • 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.
  • New guide – Publicly available information

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    Read our new guide on the publicly available refusal grounds.
  • New guides – ‘Good government’ withholding grounds

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    The Chief Ombudsman has published a suite of new guides on the ‘good government’ withholding grounds under the OIA and LGOIMA.