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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.
31 Resources Show all
Investigation into Miramar Central School seclusion complaint
OpinionsIn October 2016, I announced my intention to investigate the use of seclusion in schools.Request for document related to coalition negotiations between Labour and New Zealand First
OpinionsTwo complaints were received under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), about the decision by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, not to release certain information relating to the coalition negotiations between the Labour Party and New ZInvestigation into Ruru School seclusion complaint
OpinionsIn July 2015, Mr and Mrs M complained to the Ombudsman about the alleged abuse of their son N and other students, by staff at Ruru. Their concerns included that N was secluded in a room that Ruru referred to as its ‘safe area’.Request for information about an agency’s lease costs
OpinionsThree requests were made to the Ministry of Social Development for information about the costs of leases held at its former (Bowen Street), and current (The Terrace) premises.OIA complaints completed 1 January to 30 June 2017
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.OIA complaints received 1 January to 30 June 2017
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.KiwiRail's processing of a request for official information
OpinionsIn response to public concern, I have conducted a self-initiated investigation under the Ombudsmen Act (OA) of KiwiRail’s processing of an Official Information Act (OIA) request for the Third Main Business Case (the business case).OIA complaints completed 1 July - 31 December 2016
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 2016
Complaints dataThe Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.Request for taser camera footage and tactical operations report
OpinionsThis opinion relates to a request by a current affairs producer from Television New Zealand (the TVNZ Producer) to the New Zealand Police to view taser camera footage, and for a copy of the associated tactical options report (TOR), relating to an incideSubmission of the Ombudsman - Education (Update) Amendment Bill 2016
SubmissionsWhile we agree that on-line learning can make an important contribution to education, we are concerned about the breadth of the proposed Communities of On-Line Learning (COOL) scheme, and in particular the apparently unrestricted ability of any stInvestigation into reduction of funding for care of adult disabled children
OpinionsMr Cliff Robinson was a plaintiff in the Atkinson v Ministry of Health case which won the right for parents of intellectually disabled adult children to be paid for the care of their children.Request for information relating to request for inquiry into convictions of Peter Ellis
OpinionsDr Lynley Hood and Dr Don Brash, the complainants, requested information held by the Ministry of Justice relating to their request to the Minister of Justice, Hon Amy Adams (the Minister), for a Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case.Investigation into SSC conduct of MFAT leaks inquiry
OpinionsThis investigation was triggered by a complaint about an inquiry by the State Services Commission (SSC), which culminated in the publication of the Report to the State Services Commissioner on the Investigation into the Possible Unauthorised DRequest for health practitioner’s complaint history with HDC
OpinionsThe requester, a reporter at the Otago Daily Times (ODT), sought details of complaints made to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) against a midwife.Request for information relating to the business case for Wiri Prison
OpinionsMax Rashbrooke asked the Department of Corrections (the Department) for copies of reports to Government entitled ‘Business Case Prison Capacity Supply & Procurement 2010 – 2019’ (First Business Case) and ‘Detailed (Stage Two) Business CRequest for surgical complications data
OpinionsThe New Zealand Herald made a request to five District Health Boards (DHBs) for information about the nature and outcomes of public hospital work by cardiothoracic surgeons and neurosurgeons.Article 24 The Right to an Inclusive Education
Reports, Disability rights reportsAn report of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities looking at implementation of the Article 24 right to inclusive education.Investigation into availability of FairWay Reviewers’ Benchbook under the Official Information Act
OpinionsA requester asked FairWay Resolution Ltd (FairWay) for a copy of a FairWay document known as the Reviewers’ Benchbook.Investigation into prisoner's right to exercise at Auckland Prison
OpinionsThe complainant, Mr Arthur Taylor, was held in Auckland Prison’s D Block. In August 2014, he made a complaint that the Department of Corrections (the Department) was denying D Block prisoners the opportunity to exercise in the open air.Investigation of limited access to Ministry of Health influenza vaccine adverse reaction reports
OpinionsThe complainant, Mr Ron Law, requested information held by the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe), a Ministry of Health business unit, concerning adverse reactions to influenza vaccines in 2010 and 2011.Submission of the Ombudsman - Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled
SubmissionsThe Office of the Ombudsman strongly supports New Zealand acceding to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled.Legal professional privilege outweighed by significant public interest in release of information
OpinionsHealth researcher Professor Cindy Farquhar complained about a decision made by the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) to refuse her request for a copy of two legal opinions, one from Health Legal, the other from Crown Law (the legal opinions).Submission of the Ombudsman - Small Passenger Services Sector Review
SubmissionsThe Office of the Ombudsman is concerned that the review has not given enough attention to issues of safety and disability (issues that are central to fitness and purpose), and focussed too heavily on accommodating and potentially aligning current taxiRequest for the identities of members of the public making submissions and PHARMAC staff involved in decision making on funding of drug
OpinionsTony Wall made a request to PHARMAC for information about the decision to fund the blood thinning drug dabigatran.Making disability rights real 2011/2012
Reports, Disability rights reportsThis is the first report of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Requests for information regarding ministerial conflicts of interest
OpinionsIn late 2009 and early 2010 a number of requesters sought a range of information regarding ministerial conflicts of interest.Request for taser camera footage (subjects gave consent to release)
OpinionsIn this opinion, the subjects of the footage gave written confirmation that they were happy for the footage to be released.Submission of the Ombudsmen - Mixed Ownership Model Bill
SubmissionsOur submission concerns clauses 6 and 7 of the Mixed Ownership Model (MOM) Bill, which remove the MOM companies from being subject to the OA and OIA. These Acts are important accountabilSubmission of the Ombudsmen - Corrections Amendment Bill
SubmissionsWe had a limited opportunity to comment on the draft Corrections Amendment Bill (the Bill) and some amendments were made as a consequence of our submissions. However, there remain other matters which concern us.Request for list of titles and dates of reports and briefings received by the Minister from specified government agencies
OpinionsOn 22 January 2009 the Office of the Leader of the Opposition (the complainant) requested from the Minister of Finance a list of all reports and briefings, by title and date, received from any government departments since 9 November 2008, in relat