Resources and publications
Ngā rauemi me ngā tānga
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.
52 Resources Show all
Department of Corrections required to review process for media contact with inmates
Case notesAccess to prison inmates by the news media—conflict between procedural manual and communications policy—policy to be reviewed to ensure consistency with proceduresDepartment of Corrections protocol with Ombudsman regarding death in custody
Case notesDeath in custody—application of Protocol between Department of Corrections and Office of the Ombudsmen—issues arising from monitoring departmental investigation—need for improved communication, videotaping, fire safety and emergency proceduresSchool Board of Trustees agrees to address significant deficiencies in suspension procedure
Case notesSuspension and expulsion of student where several significant deficiencies were identified in the procedures of the Board’s disciplinary committee led to the Board of Trustees agreeing to review its procedures and apologise to student and family—the Board also amended student’s records to show the suspension decision was invalid—the Board’s willingness to address its deficiencies were notable in this case (Board members were all new to the role)Department of Corrections reasonably held inmate in segregation
Case notesUnreasonable placement of inmate on precautionary segregation—written material found in his cell which reflected on the safety of prison staff—placement not deemed unreasonableSchool Board of Trustee and Principal failed to follow disciplinary process; contrary to law
Case notesSchool Board of Trustees fails to follow statutory criteria for suspension of student (failure to provide guidance and counselling)—suspending a student is a serious step requiring careful consideration—the Ombudsman’s investigation of a wide-ranging complaint by a mother about the manner in which a school had dealt with various aspects of her two sons’ behaviour, culminating in the indefinite suspension of one of her sons, highlighted the need for Principals and Boards of Trustees to familiarise themselves thoroughly with the procedural requirements of s 13 of the Education Act 1989Department of Corrections should explain reasons for declining application to be excused from PD reporting
Case notesRefusal of application to be excused from reporting for periodic detention—incomplete explanation given at the time—reasons and apology provided—Criminal Justice Act 1985, s 41(3)Department of Corrections required to advise decision on day parole application
Case notesFailure to advise inmate of decision on application for day parole—prison administration expected inmate to ask Case officer for outcome—responsibility for advising the outcome of a request/application normally rests with decision-maker—internal procedures changed to reflect normal practiceAccident Compensation Corporation exercise of discretion found to be misleading and deficient
Case notesExercise of ministerial discretion—effect of advice to Minister fettered exercise of discretion—matter resubmitted to Minister for reconsideration—complaint deemed resolved—Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance (Experience Rating) Regulations 1993, regulation 7ACC overpaid compensation in error but agreed to write-off debt
Case notesAccident Compensation Corporation overpaid compensation in error and then tried to recover the overpayment debt from young debtor in poor financial position—Ombudsman found for the complainant and ACC agreed to write off debt and revise debt recovery policyAccident Compensation Corporation should clearly identify claimants’ rights in leaflet
Case notesReference to review and appeal rights contained in accompanying leaflets rather than incorporated in decision letter - Accident Rehabilitation & Compensation Insurance Corporation (ACC) agreed to include standard text in letter of advice to claimants - Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992, s 67Review and Appeal Rights available for ACC claimants
Case notesFailure to compensate for medical error—review and appeal rights available therefore outside jurisdiction—ACC Complaints Investigator available to consider peripheral issuesAccident Compensation Commission offers payment and apology for delays in settling claim
Case notesClaim declined—decision overturned by Appeal Authority—legislative changes in interim—entitlement lump sum payments lost—claim for ‘wrongful action’—claim for backdating of independence allowance—no authority to backdate—delay in settling ‘wrongful action’ claim—apology and token payment made—Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992, ss 54 and 135Department of Corrections accepts obligation to consider inmates’ circumstances when deciding work and educational paroles
Case notesRefusal of work and educational paroles before inmate appeared before National Parole Board—inflexible policy inconsistent with concept of individual case management—review resulted in detailed case management plan for inmatePrison unnecessarily holds inmates in secure unit
Case notesPlacement of minimum secure inmates in maximum security conditionsSchool Boards should record reasons for decisions to suspend
Case notesSuspension from school for marijuana smoking—school procedures provided for suspension for drug use—application of principles of High Court decision in M & R v Palmerston North Boys High School—need for transparency in decision-making—consideration of requirements of s.23 of the Official Information Act 1982Polytechnic and inadequate complaints procedure to deal with sexual harassment complaint—ex gratia payment
Case notesPolytechnic failed to have proper procedures in place to handle complaint from student concerning sexual harassment—Polytech agreed that it had not dealt with the matter with urgency and had an inadequate complaints procedure in place—ex gratia payment was offered to the student for this reason, not because the claims of sexual harassment had been made out, although there was an indication that prima facie a case had been made out that unacceptable behaviour by a tutor had occurred—Polytech apologised, offering ex gratia payment and undertook to improve its complaints handling proceduresSchool Board suspends 14 year old contrary to law
Case notesA 14 year-old boy suspended for an unspecified period—contrary to law—student later allowed back to school twice more—the Board ‘reinstated’ the suspension twice more when the student’s behaviour deteriorated—under the Education Act the Board must specify the period of suspension—as this was not done, the suspension expired after 7 days and therefore, could not be ‘reinstated’ at a later time—the Board agreed to review its suspension and expulsion procedures to bring them in line with the requirements under the ActSchool Board of Trustees delivers inconsistent punishment to students
Case notesExpulsion—smoking—improper discrimination by Board of Trustees vis-a-vis another pupil— recommendation to delete information from recordsAccident Compensation Corporation delays to review case caused financial hardship
Case notesLong term pain from back problem— ACC—manner of obtaining report-delays in review processSchool Certificate examination scripts released
Case notesThe Minister of Education and the Department of Education were asked to release marked School Certificate Examination scripts. All the requests were refused; sections 52 (3), 9 (2)(b) and 27 (1) were relied on. However, this was changed following the Ombudsman's recommendation.