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See the latest news and announcements.

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  • It’s your Right to Know

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    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

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    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.

  • New case note—confidential advice tendered by Police

    News article
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman has issued a new case note that further illustrates his approach to section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA when coalition negotiations are in train.

  • New case note—information about COVID-19 clusters

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    Issue date:

    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

    News article
    Issue date:

    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

    News article
    Issue date:

    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.

  • Chief Ombudsman’s statement on official information response times during the COVID-19 emergency

    News article
    Issue date:

    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is urging both agencies and people requesting official information to act fairly, reasonably and with understanding during the course of the Coronavirus emergency.

  • Chief Ombudsman is continuing to accept complaints

    News article
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has responded to the Government’s decision to raise the COVID-19 Alert Level to 4 by closing his offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

  • 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.
  • Follow up inspection finds improvements at Otago Corrections Facility

    News article
    Issue date:
    The Chief Ombudsman, Peter Boshier has released his report of a follow up inspection of Otago Corrections Facility (OCF).
  • New guide – The OIA and parliamentary privilege

    News article
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman has published a new guide in response to questions about the impact of the Parliamentary Privilege Act (PPA) on the OIA.

  • New complaints handling research announced

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    Issue date:

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

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

    News article
    Issue date:

    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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    Issue date:

    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

    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.