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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.
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15 Resources Show all
Complaint about NZTC’s investigation into incidents involving Mr A
OpinionsSummary This case concerns an investigation conducted by the New Zealand Teachers Council (‘NZTC’) Complaints Assessment Committee (‘CAC’) into conduct issues raised in complaints made against Mr A.Complaint about Health and Disability Commissioner assessment process
OpinionsSummary On 16 December 2010 the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) received a complaint about the care the complainant’s father had received from two District Health Boards after he presented at the Emergency Department at a hospital witDistrict Health Board decision not to consult on provision of abortion services at a Hospital was unreasonable
Case notesWhether the District Health Board was unreasonable to offer abortion services at a hospital without consultation with the local communityOmbudsman consideration of Pharmac decision not to approve funding for “Myozyme”
OpinionsThe complainant suffers from adult late-onset Pompe disease, a metabolic disorder which is one of a number of diseases collectively called lysosomal storage disorders. Myozyme is an enzyme replacement therapy used in the treatment of Pompe disease.Pharmac decision not to fund drug was not unreasonable or contrary to law
Case notesWhether PHARMAC decision not to fund a drug was unreasonable or contrary to law—Ombudsman concluded that this case did not reach the threshold of being unreasonable or contrary to law but made suggestions to PHARMAC about the matterLocal Authority not unreasonable to impound horse found untethered on road reserve
Case notesWhether a local authority was unreasonable to impound a horse found untethered on a road reserve—Ombudsman concluded the Regional Council acted reasonably in the circumstancesUnreasonable delay in residence application that warranted urgency
OpinionsThe complainant and his family are living in a refugee camp in Kenya. The complainant’s sister lives in New Zealand. On 22 January 2009, the complainant applied for residence in New Zealand under the Adult Sibling policy. Immigration New Zealand (INZUnreasonable failure to ensure immigration detainee advised of right to lawyer
Case notesThe Chief Ombudsman considered a complaint that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) had failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that an individual detained by the Police under immigration powers was informed of his right to contact a lawyer while detained aDecision to serve trespass notice in respect of Council's premises
OpinionsSummary The Horowhenua District Council (HDC) issued a trespass notice against the complainant, Mr Philip Taueki, after he made offensive comments during submissions on its annual plan. He had left the premises voluntarily at theDepartment of Corrections reasonable to seek removal of prisoner from study course in some circumstances
Case notesWhether the Department of Corrections was reasonable to request the tertiary institution to remove a prisoner from a course at a polytechnic—Ombudsman found Department’s decision to have been reasonable in partEarthquake Commission not unreasonable to decline payment for engineering reports commissioned by property owner
Case notesWhether it was reasonable for EQC to decline payment for two engineering reports—Ombudsman considered that EQC had not acted unreasonably in this respectComplaints against the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board relating to a disciplinary levy, continuing professional development and refusal of licensing for non-payment of fee or levy
OpinionsMr Wal Gordon complained to the Ombudsman on 14 July 2011 that the licensing conditions imposed by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board regarding continuing professional development were illegal.Local Authority unreasonably issued Trespass Notice without warning or opportunity to comment
Case notesLocal Authority issued a 2-year trespass notice on complainant immediately in response to disruptive behaviour at a meeting—Ombudsman of opinion that this was unreasonable—no prior warning given firstLocal Authority fails to independently assess affected parties to a resource consent application
Case notesLocal Authority failed to independently identify the parties affected by a resource consent application—applicant had provided Council with a list of affected parties which the Council accepted without independently identifying those partiesLocal Authority unreasonable to note requirement for fencing on LIM without inspection
Case notesWhether Local Authority reasonable to include information on Land Information Memorandum (‘LIM’) when property had not been properly inspected—Ombudsman found the Council had no justification for including notation on the LIM and action unreasonable