Resources and publications
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Search guides, case notes, opinions, reports and other information. Resources and publications can also be searched by date and other options.
Use the search bar to make your search. Then use the filters to narrow down the results by resource type or topic.
More information about the resource categories on this page
Guides
Commonly used guides include:
- The OIA for Ministers and agencies
- The LGOIMA for local government agencies
- Making official information requests: a guide for requesters
Detailed guidance on the official information legislation and aspects of good administrative practice.
We also have guidance on disability rights and protected disclosures.
Case notes and opinions
Case notes are a short case summary, often demonstrating an aspect of a case.
An Ombudsman's Opinion is published where there is public interest in showing the full details of a case.
Reports
Reports include OPCAT, disability rights, official information practice and systemic investigation.
Outreach
Contains our media releases, newsletters, pamphlets, speeches and fact sheets. Fact sheets are published in multiple language and accessible formats.
Corporate documents
This includes our annual reports and strategic intentions.
Projects, reference and data
This includes our official information complaints data, updates on investigations and other projects, and submissions by the Ombudsman.
View all projects, reference and data
Template letters and work sheets
These template letters and work sheets can be used by agencies to help respond to official information requests.
68 Resources Show all
Template letter 24: letter to requesters where third party consultation is necessary
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to let the requester know you need to consult an external third party.Commercial information work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet is about the most commonly used grounds for withholding commercial information—unreasonable prejudice to a third party’s commercial position, and prejudice or disadvantage to an agency’s commercial activities.Template letter 25: Consultation with third parties
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to consult an external third party on an OIA request.Negotiations work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is good reason to withhold official information under the negotiations withholding ground.Template letter 26: Informing third parties of the decision on the request
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to let a third party that you’ve consulted know your decision on an OIA request.Work sheet for dealing with public tender information
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis work sheet summarises guidance on dealing with public tender-related information, including responding to OIA / LGOIMA requests for such information.Third party consultation work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis work sheet takes you through the process of consulting an external third party on an OIA request.Information not held work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is a proper basis for refusing a request for official information because the document does not exist / cannot be found or the information is not held.Work sheet for dealing with OIA requests that involve Ministers
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the process of dealing with OIA requests that involve a Minister.Work sheet for dealing with administratively challenging requests
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the process of dealing with administratively challenging official information requests.Public interest work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the public interest test in section 9(1) of the OIA / section 7(1) of the LGOIMA.Confidential advice to Government work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is good reason to withhold official information under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA, in order to maintain the constitutional convention protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials.Free and frank opinions work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is good reason to withhold official information in order to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions.Charging work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the process of deciding whether or not to charge for the supply of official information, and if so, how much.Potentially frivolous or vexatious requests work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is a proper basis for refusing a request for official information under section 18(f) of the OIA / 17(f) of the LGOIMA, because the request is frivolous or vexatious.Publicly available information work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is a proper basis for refusing a request for official information under section 18(d) of the OIA / 17(d) of the LGOIMA, because the requested information is or will soon be publicly available.Sample estimate of costs
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis sample estimate of costs can be used to help calculate a charge for supplying official information, and be provided to the requester.Annual Report 2017/2018
Annual reportsIn the past year, we have made some excellent progress in key areas, none more so than by clearing our backlog of complaints, a bugbear both for us and the public. We have been quicker and more efficient in resolving complaints, but with no reduction in the quality or efficacy of our work. Specific cases we have dealt with this year are contained in this report, and they showcase the breadth and depth of the work we are tasked to undertake.Annual Report 2016/2017
Annual reportsIn 2016/17 we achieved 700 remedies for New Zealanders—‘remedy’ being the legal term for a solution to a problem. This is an increase of 20 percent on the previous year, one of many positive figures in this year’s Annual Report. We also had 149 recommendations for improvement in places of detention accepted.Model protocol on dealing with OIA requests involving Ministers
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis model protocol can be used and adapted by Ministers and agencies to agree on clear and transparent processes for dealing with OIA requests involving the Minister.Annual Report 2015/2016 - full report
Annual reportsWe have already begun to make great strides in the 2015/16 reporting year. Despite overall intake once again increasing, we completed 7% more work than last year and finished the year with 11% less work on hand than at the same time last year. Our overall net clearance rate for complaints was 105%, meaning that we closed 178 more complaints than we received, and so started to make significant inroads into our backlog of aged complaints.Annual Report 2015/2016 - at a glance
Annual reportsThis document shows our Annual Report for 2015/2016 at a glance.Annual Report 2014/2015 - at a glance
Annual reportsThis document shows our Annual Report for 2014/2015 at a glance.Annual Report 2014/2015 - full report
Annual reportsBy 2006 it was becoming clear that we could not sustain the business model we were then operating and the late John Belgrave, then Chief Ombudsman, challenged us to reflect on the theme “Where is the Office Going?” So we began what has seemed like a long journey to modernise the Office.Annual Report 2013/2014 - at a glance
Annual reportsThis document shows our Annual Report for 2013/2014 at a glance.Annual Report 2013/2014 - full report
Annual reportsThis year we have begun to reap the benefits of the additional resources granted to us by Parliament for the 2013/14 year onwards, which has enabled us to appoint additional staff to progress the amount of work we are receiving.Annual Report 2012/2013 at a glance
Annual reportsThis document shows our Annual Report for 2012/2013 at a glance.Annual Report 2012/2013 - full report
Annual reportsOur anniversary year has been a period of growth and consolidation. We have taken time to reflect on the significant contribution to our development by all those who have held the office of Ombudsman in the past 50 years. We have also managed an unprecedented increase in demand for our services, drawing on both our traditional practice developed over the previous half century and new ways of prioritising and organising our workflows.Annual Report 2011/2012 - at a glance
Annual reportsThis document shows our Annual Report for 2011/2012 at a glance.Annual Report 2011/2012 - full report
Annual reportsIn many ways, 2011/12 was a watershed year for us. We received and completed the highest ever number of complaints and other contacts concerning state sector agencies. In particular, we managed a significant increase in official information complaints and complaints relating to the Earthquake Commission.Annual Report 2010/2011
Annual reportsThe past year has seen consolidation of our efforts to improve work practices within the Office and improve our service to complainants and agencies. The final tranche of work to complete the restructuring and renewal of the Office will take place early in the 2011/2012 financial year.Annual Report 2009/2010
Annual reportsAt the close of the 2009/10 reporting year we find ourselves in a similar position to the agencies we oversee: endeavouring to deliver more and better services with the same (or in some cases fewer) resources.