Resources and publications
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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.
24 Resources Show all
Immigration New Zealand unreasonably fails to accept Court Order as evidence in work permit application
Case notesImmigration New Zealand (INZ), declined an application for a work permit made under its victims of domestic violence policy—Ombudsman concluded INZ incorrect to ignore the evidence provided of domestic violence—INZ agreed to amend policy to include final protection orders as evidence of domestic violenceRequest for blood test results of 52 past or present residents of Paritutu
Case notesSection 9(2)(a) OIA did not apply—results could not be linked with identifiable individuals—information releasedRequest for confirmation of debtor’s removal from New Zealand for purposes of insurance claim
Case notesPrivacy interest outweighed by public interest in enabling pursuit of legal rights and remediesRequest for advice and ‘think piece’ on reprioritisation or savings in Vote Education
Case notesDisclosure of internal discussion documents and advice to Ministers would prejudice ongoing decision making process—disclosure of internal ‘think piece’ would inhibit future expression of free and frank opinions by officials—ss 9(2)(f)(iv) and 9(2)(g)(i) provide good reason to withholdRequest for draft briefings to the incoming government
Case notesDisclosure of draft briefings to the incoming government would make officials reluctant to be so free and frank in expressing their initial and untested views and cause them to prefer less efficient and transparent verbal exchanges—section 9(2)(g)(i) appliesRequest for details of course attended by prisoner
Case notesRequest for details of course attended by prisoner—information withheld on privacy grounds—seriousness of offence did not extinguish right to privacy—studying was essential component of rehabilitation—public interest met by disclosure of tertiary institution and circumstances of attendanceRequest for still photograph from covert surveillance camera
Case notesRequest for still photograph from covert video surveillance camera—person featured in videotape convicted of offence—privacy interest not outweighed by any countervailing public interest favouring disclosureRequest for policy on settling disputes
Case notesRequest for policy on settling disputes—information withheld on basis of legal professional privilege—consideration of s 22 and relationship with s 9(2)(h)Request for psychiatric records of deceased sister
Case notesRequest for psychiatric records of deceased sister—records included notes from medical professionals and family members—privacy established—public interest considerations outweighed need to withhold all informationRequest for information about staff and salaries in the Prime Minister’s office
Case notesRequest for detailed information about the number of persons in the Prime Minister’s office and their salaries—information withheld to protect privacy of individuals—s 9(2)(a) applied to protect some of the information requested but public interest identified in release of worthwhile information about expenditure on personnel in PM’s office—total expenditure released—s 9(1)Request for advice given by Queen’s Counsel
Case notesRequest for advice given by Queen’s Counsel—whether information subject to legal professional privilege—purpose for which information was brought into existence—whether other considerations warranting disclosure in the public interestRequest made by employer to WINZ for information about employee
Case notesRequest made by employer to WINZ for information about employee—request refused on privacy grounds—information required for Employment Tribunal hearing—no countervailing public interest considerations outweighing need to withholdRequest for information relating to the employment investigation of Unit Manager at Prison
Case notesRequest for information relating to employment investigation of Unit Manager at Prison—information withheld on privacy and confidentiality grounds—information at issue protected, subject to release of appropriate summaries of this information to satisfy the public interest in accountabilityRequest for details of late husband’s criminal record
Case notesRequest by widow for details of late husband’s criminal record—request declined to protect privacy of deceased person—balance between requester’s circumstances and knowledge of late husband’s criminal record and deceased person’s privacy interests—consultation with Privacy Commissioner—information releasedRequest for details of address of incorrect recipient of parcel
Case notesPhotographic work sent to wrong address by Creative New Zealand—recipient disposed of parcel—photographer sought information concerning loss—privacy interests of name and address of recipient—public interest in photographer having all relevant information to enable legal rights to be assessed outweighed privacy interestRequest for Consultative Draft District Plan
Case notesConsultative Draft District Plan refused under s 7(2)(f)(i)—information did not meet requirements of that section—no statutory prohibition in Resource Management Act which prevents information being made available before the date of notification—Resource Management Act 1991, s 35(2)New Zealand Customs Service questioned over acceptance of deposit pursuant to legislation
Case notesRefusal to pay interest following resolution of dispute over Customs value of goods—whether relevant documentation provided at the time of importation—whether s 140 of the Customs Act 1966 (repealed) conferred authority on Department to take deposit—investigation discontinued following discovery that company did not exist as legal entity at the time complaint was madeImmigration Service not required to consult original employer of overseas employee about new job
Case notesEmployee resigned from business which had recruited him from overseas—business knew employee was working for another company but was concerned that it had not been advised of this situation, given the original employee’s obligations for maintenance of person while in NZ—Ombudsman found Immigration Service not obliged to consult with original employee in this situation and the person was in NZ lawfully—Immigration noted original business’s concerns and agreed with the Ombudsman that it would, as a matter of fairness, advise the original business that it was no longer required to be responsible for either the maintenance of the employee or his repatriation, should that prove necessaryImmigration Service agrees to make applicants aware of need to renew permits in good time
Case notesDelay in making decisions on applications for further temporary permits—effect of delay on applicant—no unreasonable delay by NZIS—applicants to be informed of need to apply for further permits in good timeRequest for membership lists submitted by political parties registered with the Electoral Commission
Case notesRequest for membership lists submitted by political parties registered with the Electoral Commission—request refused under s 9(2)(a)—New Zealanders generally regard support for a particular political party as a matter of personal privacy—s 9(2)(a) applied—in the absence of any argument that the Commission was not discharging its statutory functions in a reasonable manner, there was no case for wider disclosure of membership lists in the public interestRequest for communications between Minister of Finance and the Reserve Bank
Case notesRequest for communications between Minister of Finance and the Reserve Bank regarding economic growth, monetary policy and inflation outlook—information withheld under ss 6(e)(iv), 9(2)(d), 9(2)(f)(iv) and 9(2)(g)(i)—markets are extremely sensitive and react to the most subtle signals—if released, Reserve Bank would be likely to become more guarded about what was said at, and recorded after, meetings with Minister—s 9(2)(g)(i) applied and no countervailing public interest considerations which outweighed need to withholdRequest from journalist for psychological state of deceased inmate
Case notesRequest from journalist for psychological state of deceased inmate—information withheld under s 9(2)(a)—information released to next of kinRequest for address list of members of university council
Case notesRequest for address list of members of university council—addresses withheld in reliance upon s 9(2)(a)—some members did not wish disclosure of private addresses—privacy accepted in those cases—public interest in members of the public being able to communicate directly with the elected members of the university council—public interest met by university undertaking to forward correspondence addressed to council members at the universityRequest by non-custodial parent for access to child’s school reports
Case notesRequest by non-custodial parent for access to child’s school reports—child specifically asked that reports be withheld—reports addressed to student and caregivers—relevance of s 77 of the Education Act 1989 to public interest considerations—good reason to refuse under s 9(2)(a) but short statement provided to non-custodial parent to the effect that there was nothing which required reporting in terms of the Education Act