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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.
54 Resources Show all
Cancellation of transport card and refusal to refund money stored on the card
Case notesA complaint was made against Auckland Transport (AT) about its cancellation of an ‘AT HOP’ card used by commuters on Auckland’s public transport system.Local Authority’s efforts to mitigate effects of resource consent errors not unreasonable
Case notesLocal Authority decision about wall constructed on boundary—Council erred by not requiring resource consent and then offered assistance to owners to lodge application—complainant considered Council unfair not to offer assistance to him to oppose the consentLocal Authority’s Code of Compliance Certificate on drainage reasonable in circumstances
Case notesLocal Authority decision on detection of cross connection piping problem not unreasonable—Body Corporation of building forced to pay costs—question whether Code of Compliance Certificate should have been issued—Ombudsman concluded Council not aware of problemOffice of Privacy Commissioner not unreasonable to decline to investigate complaint against Police
Case notesOffice of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC)—decision not to investigate a complaint against the New Zealand PoliceRegional Authority decision on resource consent for pergola on non-notified basis not unreasonable
Case notesRegional Authority’s decision to grant resource consent for a pergola on a non-notified basis was reasonable in the circumstance—permitted baseline test under section 95E of the Resource Management Act 1991Local Authority’s Trespass Notice unreasonable in circumstances
Case notesLocal Authority issued Trespass Notice for two years at sports stadium—Ombudsman noted serious misconduct on part of complainant to warrant action but trespass sanction extreme—complaint sustained and Council implemented Ombudsman’s recommendationsLocal Authority did not act unreasonably in remedying damage following tree removal
Case notesLocal Authority—removal of two pohutukawa trees—Council agreed to mitigate loss of these in conjunction with the land owner—Ombudsman considered Council did not act unreasonablyDepartment of Corrections unreasonably declines computer access to inmate
Case notesAccess to computer suite in prison denied—Ombudsman found this unreasonable—Corrections agreed to reconsider the inmate’s request and to review criteria for use—also that computer facilities at prison be reviewed to ensure availability to prisoners who meet criteria for assistance with litigationDepartment of Corrections not unreasonable to decline face to face interview between prisoner and journalist in particular case
Case notesPrisoner requested face to face interview with journalist—request declined—Ombudsman noted journalist had offered to conduct interview by AVL, notwithstanding preference for face to face—Ombudsman concluded that on this basis Department had not acted unreasonably in this instanceLocal 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 circumstancesDepartment 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 partLocal 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 unreasonableLocal Authority unreasonably failed to consult with residents about building relocation
Case notesLocal Authority allowed relocation of building without providing for adequate consultation process with the local community—Ombudsman upheld complaintMeridian Energy’s process for purchasing property not unreasonable
Case notesComplaint about price Meridian Energy paid for a property—Ombudsman found the process had been reasonableLocal Authority unreasonably failed to provide information on LIM
Case notesLocal Authority failed to provide information in a Land Information Memorandum(LIM) about outstanding capital contribution for a sewer—Ombudsman considered Council acted unreasonably—Council made payment to complainant in resolution of complaintOmbudsman has no jurisdiction over District Council electoral officer
Case notesJurisdiction—Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over Council electoral officer—electoral expense returns not subject to Local Government Information and Meetings Act 1982Council unreasonable to erect block wall on boundary
Case notesCity Council granted permission to erect a block wall on a boundary in contravention of Town Planning ordinances – it was unreasonable of Council to grant permission without neighbour’s consentCouncil to improve oversight of contract for refuse collection
Case notesRefuse collections—change in frequency from weekly to monthlyCouncil processes when acquiring land for public road not unreasonable
Case notesCouncil’s failure to acquire land for a public roadCouncil notice about GST charge, in the circumstances, not unreasonable
Case notesPayment of increased GST—timing of Notice—effect of rapid change in central and local governmentCouncil has responsibility to ensure drainage work completed to required standard
Case notesCompensation—adequacy of inspection carried out by council under Drainage and Plumbing Regulations 1978Council advised Ministry of Works has copyright of its intellectual property
Case notesCharging—Commercial fee for use of designs/drawingsCouncil determination of noise nuisance not unreasonable
Case notesNoise Nuisance—permitting a rifle range to operate on property adjoining complainant’s-taking no action to alleviate noise nuisance created by rifle rangeCouncil rates increase proportionate
Case notesRates—whether increase in rates levied was reasonable—whether incidence of rates levied on rural coastal residents was discriminatoryCouncil had sufficient advice before making decision on water reticulation scheme
Case notesProposed water reticulation scheme full Council decision—section 13(1) Ombudsmen Act—whether the Council had sufficient information before it at the time to make the decisionLocal Authority not responsible for loss to third party when its employee had accident outside work time
Case notesMotor vehicle accident with Board vehicle—reasonableness of decision not to compensate complainant for loss suffered as a result of the accidentCouncil accepts sub-delegation to Area Planner invalid
Case notesUnreasonable decision to grant dispensation to neighbour waiving a side yard boundary requirement in the District SchemeCouncils need to work within statutory framework when dealing with complaints about dogs
Case notesUnreasonable refusal to return impounded dog—placement of dog in another home or threat to do soCouncil not unreasonable to claim entitlement to non-refundable deposit
Case notesUnreasonable tendering of land when possible contract entered into – title of land not held by CouncilCouncil enforcement of Planning Tribunal ruling
Case notesFailure to enforce District Scheme requirements-resolved by Council initiating legal proceedings