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.
48 Resources Show all
Request 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)Request by Land Transport Safety Authority to Police for details of ‘diversion’ of applicant seeking driver identification card
Case notesRequest by Land Transport Safety Authority to Police for details of ‘diversion’ of applicant for a driver identification card—request declined—disclosure would undermine purposes of ‘diversion scheme’—maintenance of the lawDepartment 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 unreasonableDepartment 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 67Request for information relating to alleged violation of a hospital patient
Case notesRequest for information relating to alleged violation of a hospital patient—right to a fair trial—information withheld under s 6(c) pending outcome of legal proceedings—information released after proceedings concludedRequest by non-custodial parent for children’s school reports
Case notesRequest by non-custodial father for school reports of two daughters—father accused of indecently assaulting daughters—father denied charges—information required for defence—s 9(2)(a) applicable, but public interest under s 9(1) in right to justice outweighed complete protectionRequest for information about a victim of crime
Case notesRequest for information about victim of crime—information needed for petition to Governor-General—balance to be struck between privacy interest and public interest in justiceRequest for names of ‘eminent New Zealanders’ consulted during preparation of Intelligence and Security Agencies Bill
Case notesRequest for names of ‘eminent New Zealanders’ who were part of the consultative process in preparing the Intelligence and Security Agencies Bill—request refused under s 9(2)(g)(i) —individuals consulted—in respect of those who advised that disclosure would inhibit them from giving free and frank advice to the Government in future, section 9(2)(g)(i) applied—need to withhold outweighed by countervailing public interestPrison unnecessarily holds inmates in secure unit
Case notesPlacement of minimum secure inmates in maximum security conditions