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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.
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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.
391 Resources Show all
Department of Internal Affairs’ interpretation of Rates Rebate Act correct in partnership income issue
Case notesDecision not to investigate a complaint about the Department of Internal Affairs’ interpretation of the Rates Rebate Act 1973Local Authority not unreasonable to enforce pool fence requirements despite previous decisions
Case notesLocal Authority previously allowed existing fence of swimming pool—new inspection revealed old decisions wrong—complainant considered change unfair—Ombudsman concluded Council entitled to insist on regulationsPatient eligibility for publicly funded healthcare
Case notesThis case note concerns an investigation under the Ombudsmen Act 1975, resulting from a complaint to the Ombudsman about the failure of a district health board (DHB) to identify that a patient was ineligible to receive publicly funded health care beforeInvestigation into 2008 national school bus transport tender process
OpinionsIn March 2008, the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) issued a “Request for Proposals for School Bus Services for contracts commencing January 2009” (the RFP) which invited tenders for school bus routes for a period of six years.Local Authority not unreasonable to issue Trespass Notice in the circumstances
Case notesWhether the District Council was reasonable to issue a Trespass Notice to the complainant and whether the complainant was given the opportunity to review the Council’s case against her—Ombudsman concludes the action was justifiedAdequacy of ex gratia payment to remedy mistake by Customs
Case notesNZ Customs officer rejected passenger on flight because water damage on passport—Ombudsman found officers failed to process the passport adequately and caused considerable cost to passenger because of this failure—complainant upheld and complainant received full payment to cover financial lossesCharge for the creation of statistics
Case notesOIA and Charging Guidelines did not apply to request for statistics that were not held but could be created for a fee—fee for the creation of statistics was calculated in accordance with the agency’s Sales and Pricing Policy and was not unreasonableLocal Authority not unreasonable to hold that right of way issue is a civil matter
Case notesWhether the Council was unreasonable to suggest that a right of way dispute between neighbours was a civil matter—Ombudsman found Council’s advice to have been reasonableEarthquake Commission’s assessment of emergency repairs on red zone property not unreasonable
Case notesWhether Earthquake Commission (EQC) reasonably addressed concerns about emergency repair work on property affected by earthquake damage—Chief Ombudsman concluded EQC’s handling of this claim had not been unreasonableState Services Commission’s consideration of complaint about Treasury policy paper was not unreasonable
Case notesWhether the State Services Commission’s consideration of a complaint made by the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association about a Treasury policy paper, was reasonable—Ombudsman concluded SSC did not act unreasonably when it considered that complaintInvestigation into Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board CPD requirements
OpinionsThe Federation of Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers (the Federation) represents tradesmen subject to the jurisdiction of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (the Board).Department of Internal Affairs provides reasonable service and advice to traveller on temporary passport
Case notesWhether the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) reasonably handled revalidation of a passport for New Zealand citizen travelling on temporary passport—Ombudsman concluded DIA had made every effort to inform the complainant of the steps needed to have his passport validatedInvestigation 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 wasLocal Authority’s dog ownership forms deficient and actions relating to processing forms were unreasonable
Case notesWhether Local Authority had reasonable practices regarding dog ownership forms in situation where dog ownership disputed by parties—Chief Ombudsman concluded forms were deficientComplaint about Council's investigation into a councillor's alleged code of conduct breaches
OpinionsSummary The complainant, Ms Anne Hunt, was a Horowhenua District Councillor.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 childhComplaint about the decision of a Board of Trustees to compulsorily charge for curriculum-related items
OpinionsSummary The complainant is a parent of secondary school students. In 2011, the complainant raised concerns the school was imposing compulsory charges for: photocopying;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 parties