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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.
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Contains our media releases, newsletters, pamphlets, speeches and fact sheets. Fact sheets are published in multiple language and accessible formats.
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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.
27 Resources Show all
Report on an unannounced follow-up inspection of Arohata Prison
OPCAT reportsIn 2007, the Ombudsmen were designated one of the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Crimes of Torture Act (COTA), with responsibility for examining and monitoring the general conditions and treatment of detainees in New Zealand prisons.Report on an unannounced follow-up inspection of Manawatu Prison
OPCAT reportsIn 2007, the Ombudsmen were designated one of the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Crimes of Torture Act (COTA), with responsibility for examining and monitoring the general conditions and treatment of detainees in New Zealand prisons.Report on an unannounced follow-up inspection of Rolleston Prison
OPCAT reportsIn 2007, the Ombudsmen were designated one of the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Crimes of Torture Act (COTA), with responsibility for examining and monitoring the general conditions and treatment of detainees in New Zealand prisons.Report on an unannounced inspection of Christchurch Men's Prison
OPCAT reportsChristchurch Prison is one of New Zealand’s larger prisons, and the largest in the South Island.Request for agency peer review of Family Violence Death Review Committee draft annual report
Case notesRelease of free and frank comments made in the context of peer reviewing a draft annual report would inhibit the expression of similar comments in future—s 9(2)(g)(i) appliedImmigration New Zealand’s consideration of a section 61 visa request regarding complainant's family role, reasonably considered
Case notesWhether the approach taken by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) about the exercise of absolute discretion when determining requests for a visa under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 was reasonable—in this case whether INZ considered relevant considerations including whether it had considered the complainant’s submissions about the active role he had in raising his New Zealand citizen partner’s daughter—Chief Ombudsman concludes INZ’s consideration of the request was reasonableImmigration New Zealand’s consideration of a section 61 visa request deficient
Case notesWhether the approach taken by Immigration New Zealand (‘INZ’) about the exercise of absolute discretion when determining requests for a visa under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 was reasonable—in this case whether INZ considered relevant considerations including whether it had considered the complainant’s submissions about the health of his New Zealand citizen child—Chief Ombudsman concludes aspects of INZ’s decision-making processes were deficientImmigration New Zealand’s decision on section 61 visa request regarding complainant's safety, reasonably considered
Case notesWhether the approach taken by Immigration New Zealand (‘INZ’) about the exercise of absolute discretion when determining requests for a visa under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 was reasonable—in this case whether INZ considered relevant considerations including whether the complainant had legitimate concerns about his alleged safety if he was to return to his home country—Ombudsman concludes INZ’s decision making was reasonableImmigration New Zealand’s decision on section 61 visa request reasonably considered
Case notesWhether the approach taken by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) about the exercise of absolute discretion when determining requests for a visa under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 was reasonable—in this case whether INZ considered relevant considerations regarding international conventions that protect the rights of a child—Ombudsman concluded INZ’s decision-making process was reasonableReport on an unannounced inspection of Spring Hill Corrections Facility
OPCAT reportsSpring Hill Corrections Facility (the Prison) opened in 2007. The Prison accommodates male prisoners with security classifications ranging from minimum to high, as well as a growing remand population. Currently, it has an operating capacity of 1038.Request for due diligence report, site visit reports and reference checks
Case notesSection 9(2)(ba)(i) applies in part to the due diligence report and to the correspondence from supplier—public interest in accountability of Department for steps taken to satisfy itself regarding supplier’s performance—sections 9(2)(ba)(i) and 9(2)(g)(i) apply to information obtained from site visits, but not to the executive summary of the reports—public interest in accountability for decision to award contract—sections 9(2)(ba)(i) applies to reference checks—release would deter referees from providing full and complete information in future—public interest requires release of summary information about the reference checksReport on an unannounced inspection of Hawke's Bay Regional Prison
OPCAT reportsHawke’s Bay Regional Prison was opened in 1989. The Prison accommodates male prisoners with security classifications ranging from minimum to high, as well as a growing remand population.Request for internal and external correspondence relating to OIA requests
Case notesRequest not frivolous or vexatious—information not trivial—agency should have met or at least talked with the requester before changing its practice of providing this type of informationRequest for draft job sizing reports
Case notesReports formed an early stage of developing options for consideration and consultation— disclosure would likely inhibit the willingness of officials and consultants to tender a wide range of preliminary options, and to canvass issues in comprehensive written form, to the detriment of prudent and effective decision makingDepartment 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 instanceImmigration New Zealand reasonable to conclude permit-holder working outside visa conditions and to issue Deportation Liability Notice
Case notesImmigration New Zealand (INZ) issued a Deportation Liability Notice (DLN) when complainant was observed working at a restaurant and outside conditions of work visa—Ombudsman found INZ’s decision reasonable in the circumstancesAssociate Minister of Immigration’s private secretary reasonably triages AMOI intervention requests
Case notesWhether Private Secretary for Associate Minister of Immigration (AMOI) acted unreasonably by not referring the complainant’s request for intervention to the AMOI—Ombudsman concludes AMOI practice for Private Secretary to triage, reasonableImmigration New Zealand reasonable to decline section 61 Visa request
Case notesImmigration New Zealand (INZ’s) decision to refuse complainant’s request for a visa under section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009, reasonable in the circumstances—issue concerned ‘shared care’ arrangement and whether INZ took this into account—complaint not upheldRequest for copy of LGOIMA request
Case notesEarlier decision to supply the (wrong) information undermined later decision to declare the request vexatious—request arose out of genuine interest in the subject—while the requester had been critical of Council that did not mean the purpose of his request was to harass or annoy—s 18(h) does not apply—information should be releasedRequest for handwritten comments on draft walking and cycling strategy
Case notesRelease would inhibit willingness of Council staff to provide free and frank opinions on drafts circulated by colleagues, or to test the content and recommendations of such documents, which would undermine the accuracy and value of the material that eventuates—s 7(2)(f)(i) appliesRequest for correspondence regarding dog control officer’s actions
Case notesRequest related to dispute some 16 years prior that had already been the subject of court proceedings and inquiries by this Office—request was an attempt to re-litigate already long concluded matters and an abuse of the right to access official information—vexatious complaint—Ombudsman refuses to investigateRequest for evidentiary conclusions in respect of 15 issues or assertions and information about religious affiliation or association of staff
Case notesInformation not held—evidentiary conclusions would need to be created—to the extent that if information about religious affiliation or association of staff was held in mind of Commissioner, it would be held in a personal capacityRequest for Pre-Cabinet précis briefings
Case notesDisclosure of short and incisive pre-Cabinet briefings and risk assessments would inhibit future expression of free and frank opinionsRequest for information refused due to offensive and repetitive nature
Case notesNumber of requests made to Police over several years—recent request considered frivolous and vexatious—refused under s 18(h) in light of tone of correspondence and previous similar requests—requester had genuine interest in obtaining the requested information—requester agreed to withdraw the abusive remarks and redraft his requests purged of derogatory and intemperate commentRequest 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