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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.
34 Resources Show all
Submission of the Chief Ombudsman – Protected Disclosures Act consultation
Projects, reference & data, SubmissionsThe State Services Commission held a public consultation on possible reform of the PDA in 2018. The Chief Ombudsman made a submission, which is now available to read.Investigation into Horowhenua District Council’s email quarantining practice
OpinionsBetween 2011 and 2017, the Horowhenua District Council kept a list of people whose emails were deemed to pose a risk to staff. This list included the names of some of the Council’s own elected officials.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.OIA complaints completed 1 January - 30 June 2018
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.OIA complaints received 1 January - 30 June 2018
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.Auckland Council’s processing of a request for official information
OpinionsI have investigated an Ombudsmen Act (OA) complaint by Radio New Zealand (RNZ) about the way in which Auckland Council processed its request for information under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA).Strategic Intentions 2018/2022
Strategic intentionsOur Strategic Intentions document sets out the nature and scope of our functions, the strategic direction of our organisation, what we are hoping to achieve, and some key measures.Request for list of buildings whose owners had not responded to Council’s requests for information about non-ductile columns
OpinionsFollowing the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) carried out a review to identify buildings with certain features which were suspected of having contributed to the collapse of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building and the loss of 115 lives.Request for information about staff grievances and allegations of bullying
OpinionsSam Sherwood, on behalf of Stuff, made a request to Selwyn District Council for information about staff grievances and allegations of bullying.Investigation into aircraft landing limits on Ngapunatoru Plateau
OpinionsTo address the growing tourist demand for scenic aircraft landings, in February 2016 the Department of Conservation decided to ‘trial’ raising the daily aircraft landing limits on the Ngapunatoru Plateau. The Ombudsman decided this was unreasonable as it didn't comply with their management plan for the park.Chief Ombudsman’s opinion on OIA requests about Operation Burnham
OpinionsFollowing the publication of the book Hit & Run in March 2017, a number of people made requests under the Official Information Act (OIA) to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) for information about Operation Burnham.OIA complaints completed 1 July - 31 December 2017
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.OIA complaints received 1 July - 31 December 2017
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.Investigation into Ministry of Health offer of ex gratia payment
OpinionsOn 27 October 2016, I concluded an Ombudsmen Act investigation into a complaint by Cliff Robinson about the decision of the Ministry of Health’s Individual Review Panel to reduce Mr Robinson’s Funded Family Care from 40 hours a week to 29.5.Investigation of DOC renewal of Routeburn Track concession
OpinionsSummary In my opinion the decision in 2013 of a Department of Conservation delegate of the Minister of Conservation – to grant a new concession to Routeburn Walks Ltd, on terms permitting the concessionaire to increase from 24 to 40 the numberInvestigation of decision to expel a high school student with Aspergers
OpinionsIn August 2009, following an incident where a year 11 student with Aspergers threatened to assault a teacher in the staff room, the Board of Trustees of the College concerned expelled the student for “gross misconduct” that wasRequest for information concerning transport rate estimates in Wellington Regional Council’s Draft 2011/2012 Annual Plan
OpinionsThe complainant requested the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) to provide him with “a copy of all the background calculations used to create the estimates for the transport rate tables for the Draft 2011/2012 Annual Plan”.Request for information concerning a general surgeon
OpinionsFairfax Media made a request to the Tairawhiti District Health Board (the DHB) for information regarding one of its general surgeons, including information about a complaint and his surgery statistics.Complaint about Council's investigation into a councillor's alleged code of conduct breaches
OpinionsSummary The complainant, Ms Anne Hunt, was a Horowhenua District Councillor.Request for information concerning Police decision not to lay charge of manslaughter following death from careless discharge of firearm
OpinionsOn 7 April 2012 Christopher Dummer was hunting in the Aorangi Forest Park, South Wairarapa, when he fatally shot Alexander Cameron McDonald.Request for information relating to Whanganui River Iwi Treaty of Waitangi negotiations
OpinionsMr Michael Fennessy of Innes Dean Tararua Law Ltd, on behalf of his client, Mr Mike Plowman, requested copies of certain documents relating to the Crown’s negotiations with Whanganui Iwi regarding “water co-management or proposals forAnnual 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.Request for the New Zealand Localities dataset
OpinionsKoordinates Limited (Koordinates) made a request to the New Zealand Fire Service Commission (NZFSC) for a copy of a computer dataset known as NZ Localities, which describes the location of boundaries between different areas of the country.Request for list of buildings requiring structural review
OpinionsFollowing the Canterbury earthquake tragedy, and noting the ongoing work of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission (the Royal Commission), the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (the Ministry) decided to carry out aRequest for legal advice concerning outsourcing contact with taxpayers
OpinionsThe complainant asked the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to provide him with copies of its legal advice relating to outsourcing contact with taxpayers about overdue tax debt, overdue tax returns and other matters.Statement of Intent 2014/18
Strategic intentionsThis statement of intent sets out the nature and scope of our functions, the strategic direction of our organisation, what we are hoping to achieve, and some key measures.Making disability rights real 2012/2013
Reports, Disability rights reportsThis is the second report of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Available in full and summary form.Submission of the Ombudsman - Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill
SubmissionsThis submission relates to the information management requirements of clause 275B of the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill.Submission of the Ombudsman - Environmental Reporting Bill
SubmissionsIt is in the interests of all New Zealanders to have comprehensive and reliable information available regularly on environmental issues that affect all of us. I do however have significant concerns with one aspect of the bill, namely clause 16, under which the Secretary for the Environment (MFE) and the Government Statistician can veto release of information to be used in an environmental report.Complaint about eligibility of Early Childhood Education graduates
OpinionsBackground The New Zealand Tertiary College (‘the Tertiary College’) is a private training establishment based in Auckland which is approved and accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (‘NZQA’) to deliver a range of early childhRequest for legal advice concerning parking tickets
OpinionsJanine Rankin of the Manawatu Standard requested a copy of the Palmerston North City Council’s legal advice concerning parking tickets.