Civil Aviation Authority - Official information compliance and practice

Introduction

In September 2025, we commenced an investigation into the Civil Aviation Authority and Aviation Security Services (CAA) as part of our regular programme of proactive investigations into official information compliance and practice. CAA is one of five agencies selected – we also examined Inland Revenue, Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for the Environment, and the Ministry for Regulation.

This report sets out our observations on how CAA meets the requirements and purposes of the OIA against our indicators of good practice. Our investigation focussed on the dimensions of leadership, culture and performing monitoring.

An agency’s culture around transparency, openness, and the strength of its OIA practices flows from the attitudes, messaging and actions of its senior leaders – particularly those of the Chief Executive. It is our expectation that leaders make clear, regular statements to staff and to the public in support of the principle and purposes of official information legislation, and of the importance of openness more generally.

Accurate performance reporting is also crucial to respond to demands and reprioritise when required. Through regular reporting, senior leaders can oversee the agency’s practice and compliance with the OIA, the effectiveness of its structures, resources, capacity and capability. Any issues identified that risk the agency’s ability to comply with the OIA should be actively considered, addressed and, in effect, create a feedback loop.