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Guides
Commonly used guides include:
- The OIA for Ministers and agencies
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- Making official information requests: a guide for requesters
Detailed guidance on the official information legislation and aspects of good administrative practice.
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Template letters and work sheets
These template letters and work sheets can be used by agencies to help respond to official information requests.
82 Resources Show all
OPCAT Aged Care Monitoring: Chief Ombudsman's Observations 2021 to 2024
OPCAT reportsThis report summarises some of the Chief Ombudsman's insights from visits to secure aged care facilities between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2024.Report on an examination of the Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsMy examination of Prisoners of Extreme Risk Unit (PERU) has given me a clear picture of how the PERU operates, and what it means for the conditions and treatment experienced by people in custody in the PERU.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Henry Rongomau Bennett – Waiora Waikato Hospital, Hamilton
OPCAT reportsFrom 24 to 26 May 2022, three teams of two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf – made announced three-day inspections to Puna Maatai, Puna Awhi-rua, and Puna Poipoi Wards at Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Te Whetu Tawera – Auckland City Hospital
OPCAT reportsFrom 23 to 25 August 2022, two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced three-day inspection to Te Whetu Tawera.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Ward 6C, Dunedin Hospital
OPCAT reportsOn 6 and 7 September 2022, two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced two-day inspection of Ward 6C, Dunedin Hospital.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Te Whare Oranga Tangata o Whakaue Unit, Rotorua Hospital
OPCAT reportsFrom 23 November 2021, a team of two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced two-day inspection to the Unit.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Ward 9A, Wakari Hospital, Dunedin
OPCAT reportsFrom 27 to 30 September 2022, two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced four-day inspection to Ward 9A at Wakari Hospital, Dunedin.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Ward 9B Wakari Hospital, Dunedin
OPCAT reportsFrom 26 to 30 September 2022, two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced five-day inspection to Ward 9B at Wakari Hospital in Dunedin.Report on an announced follow up inspection of He Puna Waiora Mental Health Inpatient Unit, North Shore Hospital Campus
OPCAT reportsBetween 23 and 26 August 2022, two Inspectors – who I have authorised to visit places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced four-day inspection of the He Puna Waiora Mental Health Inpatient Unit.Report on an announced targeted inspection of Ngā Rau Rākau, Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital
OPCAT reportsFrom 23 November 2021, a team of two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced two-day inspection to the Unit.Report on an announced targeted inspection of Te Puna Waiora, Taranaki Base Hospital
OPCAT reportsFrom 29 September 2021 a team of two inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced two-day inspection to Te Puna Waiora.Report on an announced follow up inspection of the Inpatient Mental Health Unit - Southland Hospital
OPCAT reportsFrom 24 January 2023, three Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced four-day inspection to the Inpatient Mental Health Unit at Southland Hospital.Report on an announced targeted inspection of Te Whare Awhiora, Gisborne Hospital
OPCAT reportsFrom 27 October 2021, a team of two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf – made an announced two-day inspection of Te Whare Awhiora, Gisborne Hospital.Report on an unannounced inspection of Kingsley Mortimer Unit, North Shore
OPCAT reportsFrom 6 to 10 March, a team of two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an unannounced five-day inspection to the Kingsley Mortimer Unit.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa – Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre
OPCAT reportsOn 27 July 2022, a team of two Inspectors made an announced one-day follow up inspection of Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa – Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre.Report on an announced follow up inspection of Matawhāiti Residence under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsExcerpt from recommendations I am making one repeat recommendation, one amended recommendation, and three new recommendations based on my 2022 inspection.Report on an announced targeted inspection of Manawatu Prison under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsExcerpt from Recommendations I make the following recommendations for improving the conditions and treatment of those in the Prison:Report on an announced targeted inspection of Arohata Prison under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsIntroductionFollowing report has been prepared in my capacity as a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), as designated under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 (COTA).Report on an announced targeted inspection of Christchurch Women’s Prison under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsIntroductionFollowing report has been prepared in my capacity as a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), as designated under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 (COTA).Report on an announced inspection of Pohutukawa Forensic Intellectual Disability Unit, Mason Clinic, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 12 and 15 April 2021, three Inspectors — whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf — made an announced inspection of Pohutukawa Forensic Intellectual Disability Unit (the Unit), within the Mason Clinic, located in Point Chevalier, Auckland.Report on an unannounced inspection of Otago Corrections Facility under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsThis report examines the conditions and treatment of prisoners detained in Otago Corrections Facility. I authorised my Inspectors to conduct a seven-day inspection of the Prison from 5 October to 11 October 2020.Report on an unannounced inspection of Ward 21, Palmerston North Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 18 and 21 May 2021, 2 Inspectors — whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf — made an unannounced four day inspection of Ward 21, Palmerston North Hospital.Report on an unannounced follow up inspection of Te Whare Maiangiangi Unit, Tauranga Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsThis report sets out my findings and recommendations concerning the conditions and treatment of people detained in Te Whare Maiangiangi Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit (the Unit), which was inspected on 16 and 17 August 2021.Report on an unannounced follow up inspection of Te Toki Maurere Unit, Whakatāne Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsThis report sets out my findings and recommendations concerning the treatment and conditions of people detained in Te Toki Maurere Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit (the Unit), which was inspected between 26 and 28 July 2021.OPCAT Report: Thematic report on inspections of secure intellectual disability facilities under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsThis report provides a summary of my findings and recommendations in relation to inspections conducted between 14 August 2019 and 4 June 2020 of 17 secure residences where people with intellectual disabilities were detained. At the time of my inspections in June 2020, New Zealand was at COVID-19 Alert Level 2.Report on an unannounced inspection of Ward 10a and Helensburgh Cottage, Wakari Hospital Dunedin, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 3 and 7 May 2021, two Inspectors made an unannounced inspection of Ward 10a and the Helensburgh Cottage, which are located in the grounds of Wakari Hospital, Dunedin.Report on an announced inspection of Manaakitanga Inpatient Unit, Te Nīkau Grey Base Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 20 and 23 April 2021, two inspectors, whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf, made an announced inspection of Manaakitanga Inpatient Unit (the Unit), which is located in the grounds of Te Nīkau Grey Base Hospital, Greymouth.Report on an unannounced inspection of Wāhi Oranga Mental Health Admission Unit, Nelson Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 29 March and 1 April 2021, Inspectors made an unannounced inspection of Wāhi Oranga Mental Health Admission Unit, which is located in the grounds of Nelson Hospital, Braemer Campus, Nelson.Report on an unannounced inspection of Ward 6C, Dunedin Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsExecutive summaryBackgroundOmbudsmen are designated one of the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 (COTA), with responsibility for examining and monitoring the conditions and treatment of patientsReport on an unannounced inspection of the Fraser McDonald Unit, Auckland District Health Board, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsFrom 21 to 25 June 2021 (inclusive), Inspectors — whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf — made an unannounced inspection of the Fraser McDonald Unit, which is located in the grounds of Auckland City Hospital.Report on an unannounced inspection of Pūrehurehu Forensic Acute Mental Health Unit, Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua Campus, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsExecutive summaryBackgroundOmbudsmen are designated as one of the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 (COTA), with responsibility for examining and monitoring the conditions and treatment of patieReport on an unannounced inspection of Rangipapa Forensic Acute Mental Health Unit, Rātonga-Rua-O-Porirua Campus, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsExecutive summaryBackgroundOmbudsmen are designated as one of the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 (COTA), with responsibility for examining and monitoring the conditions and treatment of clien