Reflections from the Ombudsman Interns: 2024 - 2025

The Ombudsman may not be on most young people’s radar, but internships are helping to make a change to that. 

For university students Rocco, Jonah, Sam, Eden, and Isla, a summer internship at the Ombudsman’s office in 2024-2025 offered hands-on experience in ensuring fairness for all. 

“Working at the Ombudsman has equipped me with a huge appreciation of the Ombudsman’s vital role and left me incredibly proud of the work that this office does” reflects Isla. 

What does the Ombudsman actually do?

“The Ombudsman is an independent body that makes sure government agencies act fairly,” says Jonah. “If someone feels they’ve been treated unfairly, they can complain, and the Ombudsman will act as an impartial mediator to help resolve the situation.”

For Sam, who studied public law, the role was familiar. “The Ombudsman is known as the ‘watchdog’ or perhaps better described as the ‘referee’ for government agencies. They’re an independent office that anyone can turn to if they feel unfairly treated by a public sector organisation. They listen to your issue, investigate without taking sides, and make recommendations to fix problems where things went wrong. They’re confidential, independent, and focused on making sure the agencies that influence people’s lives the most are doing things right.”

“The Ombudsman is fundamentally about the effective protection of rights and providing a check on Government power,” says Isla.

Growing awareness

A major challenge that the Ombudsman faces is awareness. Many New Zealanders—especially young people and Māori—aren’t aware of the role it plays.

“The name itself can be a barrier,” says Jonah. “It’s a foreign word that might seem obscure to some. But personally, I think it’s a cool word—way better than calling it the ‘grievance person’!”

Eden shares “I had heard of the name before, but I didn’t know what the Ombudsman actually did. Now, I understand how much its work impacts people’s lives.”

Rocco, who worked in a team that values relationships with the community as the most important thing, says: “Kia mōhio ai rātau ki tēnei ara e ea ai ā rātau nawe, ā rātau raru, kia mōhio ai rātau anei tētahi māngai mo rātau ~ More Māori need to know about the Ombudsman and the work of the office so that they know the path to settle any of their grievances or problems, and so they know there is someone that can speak for them.”

Sam points out time where a young person might complain to the Ombudsman, “if they feel that a public service—such as a local council, school, or youth justice agency—has treated them unfairly or failed to follow proper procedures in a way that personally impacts their life,” says Sam. “For example, if a decision affecting their education or welfare appears unjust, or if they witness misconduct that directly affects their well-being, they can bring the issue forward for an impartial review.”

Jonah adds, “For people my age, we deal with universities, MSD for Studylink, local councils, the health system, etc. All of which can often lead to us feeling wronged or treated unfairly. For children and young people in the care of Oranga Tamariki, the Ombudsman is there to hear complaints as well.”

Who can complain to the Ombudsman?

Sam outlines, “Anyone who feels they’ve been treated unfairly by a public sector organisation can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. This includes individuals, businesses, or community groups. Essentially, if you think you’ve been wronged by a public service and have a personal stake in the matter, you have the right to bring your concern forward for a fair review.”

Diverse roles at the Ombudsman

Each intern worked in a different area, from legal support, knowledge management, systemic matters, community engagement, to health and safety. 

“The Ombudsman’s powers are also incredibly broad, and it performs a diverse range of functions,” says Isla. “The Ombudsman isn’t just one person with a small team trying to perform several different roles at once, instead there are actually over 200 people!”

Isla explains, “The Ombudsman can investigate the actions of a wide range of public sector bodies, which can be prompted by a complaint or carried out as an own motion investigation. The Ombudsman doesn’t just investigate complaints, but is also responsible for monitoring places of detention, dealing with whistleblowing and ensuring the fair treatment of disabled people.”

For Rocco, the focus was on strengthening ties and relationships between the Ombudsman and the Kiingitanga. “Kia whakatairanga i ngā mahi a te tari kaitiaki mana tangata ki te iwi Māori ~ To promote the work of the Ombudsman towards the Māori people.”

Jonah shares his learning about the range of roles of the Ombudsman: “I was particularly unfamiliar with the crucial work that the OPCAT team does in monitoring places of detention in the country. They monitor prisons, aged care and other facilities to ensure people’s rights are upheld.” 

Eden was surprised by the range of areas in which the Office works in. “It was interesting to see how far the work of the Ombudsman reaches.” 

Would you recommend an Ombudsman internship?

“Go for it!” says Sam. “The internship at the Ombudsman's office was an incredible experience. The environment is friendly and welcoming, and everyone is supportive.” 

For many of the interns, this was their first time working in an office environment. “Working at the Ombudsman has made the world of work a lot less daunting,” says Eden. “Everyone was so supportive.”

Jonah agrees. “Working here has reinforced my belief in the importance of working for an organisation that aligns with your Kaupapa and principles, as the Ombudsman does with mine. This leads to a sense of purpose and fulfilment from work.” 

If you are considering career opportunities – one intern from this year has started working at the Ombudsman, joining a number of past interns who have done the same. So, for those thinking about applying, Eden has this advice: “Just make sure to apply and give it a go, even if you are unsure and be confident in the value that you can bring.” 

Watch out for the next 2025-26 intern ‘expressions of interest’ round launching in August 2025.

For any questions on the intern programme, please email [email protected].

Pictured from left to right: Eden Hall, Isla Bremner, Jonah Broughton, Rocco Marsh and Sam Garry.