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See the latest news and announcements.

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  • 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:

  • Chief Ombudsman welcomes Protected Disclosure Act review

    Media release
    Issue date:

    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has welcomed today’s announcement by the Minister of State Services Chris Hipkins that the Government intends to begin strengthening the Protected Disclosures Act to provide better protection for whistle blowers.

  • Integrity doesn’t stop at the border

    News article
    Issue date:
    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

    News article
    Issue date:

    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.

  • 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.
  • 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

    News article
    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.

  • Latest OIA data released by the Ombudsman – LGOIMA data to be released in September

    Media release
    Issue date:
    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier today released his latest Official Information Act data, which shows a 34% rise in complaints received by his office since the data was first published two-and-a-half years ago.
  • 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.