Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is to begin a series of targeted inspections this week to provide an independent assessment of how secure aged care facilities are responding to COVID-19.
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says all New Zealanders have the right to be treated fairly during the COVID-19 emergency including those under lock and key.
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.
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.
The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is to conduct a formal investigation into two complaints from Auckland Councillors about the release of the central city stadium reports.
The Office of the Ombudsman will soon be monitoring the treatment of patients in privately run aged care facilities and detainees in court cells, which amounts to a major expansion of the Office's work and mandate. Read the media release and fact sheet.