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.
11 Resources Show all
Request for information about assessment of community organisation as approved community service
Case notesSection 9(2)(a) OIA did not apply to correspondence from the chair of the community organisation—the fact that a person signed a letter does not necessarily make that letter personal information about them—signatory was acting in his professional capaciRequest for investigation report relating to a personal grievance
Case notesSections 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba)(i) and (ii) OIA applied—privacy and confidentiality in employment context—express obligation of confidence to parties and other contributors—release would be likely to prejudice the future supply of information needed to deRequest for information about an employment investigation (personal grievance)
Case notesPrivacy and confidentiality grounds apply but need for accountability when things go wrong— seniority of the individuals involved—extent of information in the public domain—other means of scrutiny and regulation—third party review satisfied the public interest in this caseRequest for information about employment investigation involving misuse of letterhead by Police officer
Case notesSections 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(ba)(i) OIA applied—privacy and confidentiality in employment context—withholding necessary to protect the officer’s privacy—express or implied obligation of confidence—release would be likely to prejudice the future supply of iRequest for information about an employment investigation (withholding grounds)
Case notesPrivacy and confidentiality grounds applied—need for accountability when things go wrong— extent of information in the public domain—need to provide the ‘full picture’—nature and seriousness of the wrongdoing¬—whether other means of scrutiny or regulation—release of summary information to satisfy public interestRequest for offender’s photo on police file
Case notesRape victim sought photograph of attacker whose face she had never seen—Police refused the request to protect the privacy of the offender—s 9(2)(a) applied—public interest in assisting victims of crime to recover from trauma and move on with their lives—balance of competing privacy and public interest considerations needed to be made—appropriate to make photograph available for viewing subject to appropriate conditionsRequest for qualifications and work history of staff at Polytechnic Department
Case notesRequest for details about staff at Polytechnic—withheld under s 9(2)(a) to protect privacy—public interest in ensuring employment practices of Polytechnic are transparent and fair—met by summary release of staff details and selection processRequest for information by father relating to school suspension of son
Case notesRequest by non-custodial father for information relating to his son’s suspension refused in order to protect son’s privacy—weight to be accorded to privacy vis-à-vis school’s obligations of disclosure under s 77 Education Act—summary of information released to satisfy public interest—Education Act 1989, s 77; Guardianship Act 1968, s 3Request for individual totals of abortions reported in 1997 for certain licensed institutions
Case notesRequest for individual totals of abortions reported in 1997 for certain licensed institutions—established privacy interests not outweighed by countervailing public interest, subject only to release of further statistical informationRequest for information relating to Civic Creche Inquiry
Case notesRequest for information relating to Christchurch Civic Creche Inquiry—most information released, but all names and other personal information withheld on privacy grounds—view formed privacy considerations did not attach to names of public sector employees in the context of their positions—privacy did attach to other employment related matters, and to names of private sector employees, children and parents involved—no countervailing public interest considerations identifiedRequest for information concerning patients believed ineligible for publicly funded healthcare
Case notesRequest for information from Immigration Service concerning patients believed ineligible for publicly funded healthcare—some information withheld on privacy grounds—some information not held—balance to be struck between public interest in release of information to the extent necessary to confirm eligibility for public funding and privacy interest—release of statement satisfied public interest