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.
17 Resources Show all
Request for draft ‘Alternatives Paper’ prepared by consultants on CBD rail link
Case notesRelease would inhibit exchange of drafts and views between staff and consultants, which would undermine the drafting process—s 7(2)(f)(i) applied—public interest met by the release of the final report and the peer reviews by relevant agenciesRequest for literature review on youth desistance
Case notesDraft review provided to successful tenderer as starting point for an external research project— information not in the nature of free and frank opinions—disclosure would not undermine interest in s 9(2)(g)(i)—release accompanied by contextual statementRequest for minutes of Council workshops
Case notesRequest for minutes of Unitary Plan Political Working Party—minutes related to Council ‘workshops’—s 7(2)(f)(i) applied in part—minutes could be disclosed in part without inhibiting people from contributing to workshops in futureRequest for draft report on NZX compliance with general obligations
Case notesRelease would inhibit the free and frank expression of opinions by officials during the drafting process, and the exchange of opinions between the NZX and FMA—it is in the interests of the ‘effective conduct of public affairs’ for the review process to be robust and conducted in a manner that supported the FMA’s main objective of promoting and facilitating the development of fair, efficient and transparent markets—s 9(2)(g)(i) appliedRequest for handwritten notes of discussions between MFAT Chief Executive and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Case notesRequest for handwritten notes of Chief Executive’s discussions with Minister—confidentiality is necessary to protect the ongoing effectiveness and conduct of the relationship—public interest in disclosure not sufficient to outweigh s 9(2)(g)(i) interestRequest for details of risk management processes
Case notesRequest for details of risk management processes—relevant documents provided apart from the ‘risk register’—register consisted of free and frank expressions of opinion—release might undermine risk management strategy—public interest met by release of Risk Management PolicyDepartment of Conservation resolves impasse concerning ivory-key piano held by New Zealand Customs
Case notesRefusal to release piano imported from United Kingdom—family heirloom from 1920s—need for approval of Department of Conservation under CITES because of ivory content—conflict between New Zealand legislation implementing CITES and European Community Regulations—impasse resolved by acceptance of statutory declaration by family—conflict to be raised with CITES SecretariatImmigration Service reviews returning residents visa policy following complaint
Case notesRefusal of application for returning resident’s visa—failure of New Zealand Immigration Service to advise applicant of discretion to make exception to policy—applicant incurred additional costs in changing travel plans—NZIS accepted responsibility for omission and reimbursed additional costs—policy on returning resident’s visa reviewed and amendedImmigration Service allows reconsideration of residence application
Case notesApplication for residence declined on ground that false declaration supplied—principles of fairness and natural justice—provision of a fair hearingDepartment of Justice charged inmate incorrect amount for escort to attend tangi
Case notesExcessive charge arising from escort of prison inmate—correspondence—failure of Department to replyDepartment of Justice allows same day parole for husband and wife
Case notesA husband and wife serving prison sentences at the same time—same day parole allowedDepartment of Justice failed to provide adequate opportunity for community comment on courtroom closure
Case notesAdvice to Minister re Court closure-whether fair and accurate—need for standard criteria to be adopted and appliedImmigration Service delays to process permit reconsideration prompting staff training
Case notesImmigration—work permit—delay in reconsidering application-reconsideration process—staffing and training analysis—complaints resolvedImmigration Service inconsistent applying test for employers supporting residence applications
Case notesApplication for permanent residence on occupational ground—declined on grounds that nationwide advertising for position had not been undertaken by employer—different approaches taken by Regional and Head OfficesDepartment of Internal Affairs administrative practice regarding prefix name in passports not unreasonable in the circumstances
Case notesRefusal to issue passports with names printed as requested-invasion of privacy-administrative convenienceImmigration Service fails to provide adequate opportunity to comment on adverse information and failed to give clear reasons for decline decision
Case notesImmigration-residence visas—applications provisionally approved and subsequently declined—reasons for declining not given at time of provisional approval-whether decisions to decline unlawful or unreasonable—whether procedures adopted in declining applications unreasonableImmigration Service fails to consider residence application in accordance with policy
Case notesUnreasonable decision to decline application for permanent residence Misapplication of policy following a policy change