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.
998 Resources Show all
Request for average remuneration of 10 highest paid staff broken down by gender
Case notesSection 9(2)(a) OIA applied—small numbers in top 10 meant there was a real likelihood release could reveal fairly accurate salary information about identifiable individuals—withholding necessary to protect their privacy—s 9(2)(i) did not apply—insufficiCall to avoid the pending removal of a newborn pēpi
Case notesThe Chief Ombudsman received a call from a mother who had recently given birth. She and her baby were still in hospital, but baby was about to be discharged, and removed by Oranga Tamariki from the hospital.Decision not to accept marriage certificate as proof of surname change
Case notesInland Revenue (IR) refused to accept marriage certificate as proof of name change—as a result of preliminary inquiries IR reinstated its policy of accepting marriage certificates as proof of name change, and updated the complainant’s name—complaint resRequest for information about death in custody
Case notesRequest for all correspondence about death in custody—unreasonable to rely on sections 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba)(i) without compiling and reviewing the information—subsequent reliance on section 18(f) (substantial collation or research) also unjustified—Ex-gratia payment for superannuitant in receipt of overseas pension
Case notesRequest by superannuitant for ex-gratia payment for deduction of voluntary component of overseas pension from New Zealand superannuation – Ministry of Social Development failed to advise superannuitant of discretion to defer commencement of deductioRequest for RMA side agreement between Council and iwi
Case notesSection 7(2)(c)(ii) LGOIMA applied—agreement contained express obligation of confidence— release would be likely to damage the public interest in encouraging parties to settle their disputes without resorting to litigation—public interest in accountabilDecision by public transport operator not to reimburse charges incurred due to unavailability of public transport services
Case notesComplainant unable to board public transport service within 30-minute transfer period incurs extra charges—operator declines to provide a refund citing its policy—complainant alleges an obligation to provide services to all destinations within 30 miCharge for supply of information about the closure of Naenae Pool
Case notesDecision to charge $228 for supply of information about the closure of Naenae pool was unreasonable—the significance of the issue within the Lower Hutt community warranted a full waiver of that charge—Council agreed to waive the fee and change its chargRequest for information on public service chief executive pay and remuneration
Case notesRequest for information on chief executive pay and remuneration—s 9(2)(a) did not provide good reason to withhold total chief executive pay—disclosure recommended by the Chief Ombudsman—s 9(2)(a) did provide good reason to withhold individual componResponse of Board of Trustees to parents’ complaint about bullying
Case notesFailure of school to deal effectively with bullying of autistic and gifted student – parents complain to Board of Trustees – response received a year later- parents highly dissatisfied – investigation discloses that independent review conducted withoutRequest for Police Commissioner’s letter to the Minister about Deputy Commissioner
Case notesRequest for letter written by the Police Commissioner to the Minister of Police about response to Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) findings on bullying complaints about Deputy Police Commissioner—s 9(2)(a) applied—information related to tRequest for Chief Executive’s performance agreement and KPIs
Case notesRequest for Chief Executive’s performance agreement and KPIs—s 7(2)(a) LGOIMA did not provide good reason to withhold most of the performance agreements and KPIs—however, s 7(2)(c)(ii) provided good reason to withhold ‘stretch targets’—there was a mDecision not to include proposal in shortlist for Christchurch regeneration area plan
Case notesComplainant’s proposal for the draft Ōtākaro/Avon River Corridor Regeneration Plan excluded from shortlist of proposals for public notification—complainant alleged assessment of proposal flawed, failure of agency to engage with complainant regardingRequest for staff names and initials in Commerce Commission memorandum
Case notesSection 9(2)(a) OIA did not apply—not necessary to withhold staff names to protect their privacy—section 9(2)(g)(ii) did not apply—no information to suggest release would lead to improper pressure or harassment—section 9(2)(g)(i) did not apply—no reasonRequest for correspondence between agencies and Operation Burnham inquiry
Case notesInformation held by agencies was ‘official information’—no exclusions applied—section 32 of the Inquiries Act did not change the status of the information held by agencies as ‘official’— information released with redactionsRequest for emails generated in the course of the Ombudsman’s preliminary inquiries
Case notesThis case note relates to the Ombudsman’s investigation and review of a decision by the Ministry of Education to redact some information from its email responses to the Ombudsman’s preliminary inquiries.Template letter 1: Acknowledgement letter
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this template letter to acknowledge receipt of a request for official information.Template letter 2: Letter seeking clarification or amendment of request
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter if you need to seek clarification or amendment of a request for official information.Template letter 3: Transfer letter to requester
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to inform the requester that you have had to transfer some or all of their request to another agency subject to the OIA or LGOIMA.Template letter 4: Transfer letter to other agency
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to transfer some or all of a request for official information to another agency subject to the OIA or LGOIMA.Template letter 5: Extension letter
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to notify the requester of an extension of the maximum timeframe for making and communicating a decision on their request for official information.Template letter 6: Letter communicating the decision on a request
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to make and communicate the decision on a request for official information.Template letter 7: Charging letter
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to tell the requester you intend to charge for the supply of official information.Template letter 8: Consultation with requester before relying on section 18(f) OIA / section 17(f) LGOIMA
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersAgencies must consider consulting the requester before refusing a request on the grounds of substantial collation or research. This letter provides a basis for written consultation with the requester.Template letter 9: Confirming outcome of consultation with requester
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersThis letter can be used to confirm the outcome of consultation with the requester.Template letter 10: Releasing the information in an alternative form
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersInformation can be released in an alternative form if meeting the requester's preference would impair the efficient administration of the agency. This letter can be used as a basis for conveying that decision.Template letter 11: Refusal letter under section 18(f) OIA / section 17(f) LGOIMA
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter when you need to refuse a request for official information because it would require substantial collation or research.Request for names and contact details in Department of Corrections’ emails
Case notesSection 9(2)(a) OIA did not apply to names—many of the names were publicly available— seniority— section 9(2)(g)(ii) did not apply to names—no evidence to suggest release would lead to improper pressure or harassment—section 9(2)(a) did not apply to emaTemplate letter 12: Refusal letter under section 18(d) OIA / section 17(d) LGOIMA—Information publicly available
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter when you need to refuse a request for official information because the information is publicly available.Template letter 13: Refusal letter under section 18(d) OIA / section 17(d) LGOIMA—Information soon to be publicly available
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersThis letter can be used to communicate the refusal of a request for official information because the information will be publicly available soon.Template letter 14: Advice that information has been published
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to update the requester that information which was previously refused is now publicly available.Template letter 15: Advice that publication has been delayed
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to update the requester that information which was intended to be published soon has been delayed.