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  • Investigation into Miramar Central School seclusion complaint

    Opinions
    … investigate the use of seclusion in schools. This followed complaints from the parents of a student who attended Ruru …
  • Report on an unannounced follow-up inspection of Arohata Prison

    OPCAT reports
    In 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 reports
    In 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 reports
    In 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 reports
    Christchurch Prison is one of New Zealand’s larger prisons, and the largest in the South Island.
  • Decisions of PHARMAC to fund Opdivo and Keytruda

    Case notes
    A complaint was made to the Ombudsman that PHARMAC took too long to approve the May 2015 application to fund the metastatic melanoma cancer drug Keytruda.[1]
  • Request for document related to coalition negotiations between Labour and New Zealand First

    Opinions
    Two complaints were received under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), about the decision by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, not to release certain information relating to the coalition negotiations between the Labour Party and New Z
  • Ministry of Health policy on reimbursement of expenses for house modification unreasonable

    Case notes
    Whether the Ministry of Health’s policy to require prior approval for funding for house modification was reasonable—Ombudsman concluded it was not
  • Request for information about access to staff records

    Case notes
    Information held is incomplete but it should be released along with a contextual statement—s 18(g) does not apply—staff recollections should also be provided
  • Request for agency peer review of Family Violence Death Review Committee draft annual report

    Case notes
    Release 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) applied
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Spring 2017

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    In this OQR: engagement in the Pacific, the Ombudsman's Annual Report 2016/17, a Disability Rights update, Experts by Experience on our OPCAT visits, agency progress on the OIA, PrivacyLive on Right to Know Day
  • Request for fisheries catch reports

    Case notes
    Section 9(2)(ba)(i) OIA applied—information compelled under an enactment—difficulties in monitoring compliance meant there was a strong reliance on accurate self-reporting—release would be likely to prejudice the future supply of accurate information fr
  • Investigation into Ruru School seclusion complaint

    Opinions
    In July 2015, Mr and Mrs M complained to the Ombudsman about the alleged abuse of their son N and other students, by staff at Ruru. Their concerns included that N was secluded in a room that Ruru referred to as its ‘safe area’.
  • Request for footage of battle of Baghak

    Case notes
    NZDF deemed to hold battle footage recorded by soldiers on their personal devices in their official capacity
  • Requests for firearms statistics

    Case notes
    Refusal under section 18(g) not justified—information held—Police could manually extract and compile statistics—where compilation involves substantial collation or research s 18(f) applies
  • Request for a Regional Councillor’s email and telephone communications

    Case notes
    A requester sought access to a Hawke’s Bay Regional Councillor’s email and telephone communications with specified third parties between 8 and 25 August 2016.
  • Request for employee’s recollection of events

    Case notes
    Request for DIA employee’s recollection of events that occurred when she was employed by another agency—DIA not deemed to hold information because not held by employee in that person’s capacity as such an employee—information that cannot be recalled is not held—s 18(g) applies
  • Annual Report 2016/2017

    Annual reports
    In 2016/17 we achieved 700 remedies for New Zealanders—‘remedy’ being the legal term for a solution to a problem. This is an increase of 20 percent on the previous year, one of many positive figures in this year’s Annual Report. We also had 149 recommendations for improvement in places of detention accepted.
  • The critical factors of excellence

    Speeches
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier's address to the 2017 Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Award finalists' dinner.
  • Request for advice regarding the effectiveness of benefit reductions

    Case notes
    A journalist asked the Ministry of Social Development for copies of any advice or reports it had provided to the Minister for Social Development on the effectiveness of benefit reductions under section 70A of the Social Security Act 1964.
  • Request for information about an agency’s lease costs

    Opinions
    Three requests were made to the Ministry of Social Development for information about the costs of leases held at its former (Bowen Street), and current (The Terrace) premises.
  • OIA complaints completed 1 January to 30 June 2017

    Complaints data
    The Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.
  • OIA complaints received 1 January to 30 June 2017

    Complaints data
    The Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.
  • Health and Disability Commissioner not unreasonable to refer matter to Medical Council without advising complainant

    Case notes
    Whether the Health and Disability Commissioner legally or otherwise required to inform complainant of a referral made to the Medical Council of New Zealand—Ombudsman concluded HDC not bound to divulge this information
  • Immigration New Zealand’s consideration of a section 61 visa request regarding complainant's family role, reasonably considered

    Case notes
    Whether 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 reasonable
  • Immigration New Zealand’s consideration of a section 61 visa request deficient

    Case notes
    Whether 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 deficient
  • Immigration New Zealand’s decision on section 61 visa request regarding complainant's safety, reasonably considered

    Case notes
    Whether 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 reasonable
  • Immigration New Zealand’s decision on section 61 visa request reasonably considered

    Case notes
    Whether 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 reasonable
  • Request for cost of recruiting Vice-Chancellor

    Case notes
    Release of total cost would not unreasonably prejudice third party’s commercial position—no specific negotiations—release of total costs would not deter businesses from treating with government—public interest in accountability for spending public money
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Winter 2017

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The latest Ombudsman Quarterly Review updates you on the work of our Office, from investigating alleged ministerial interference in an OIA response to leading a pilot prison inspection in Melbourne.
  • Request for names of staff involved in sending email to parents about Pink Shirt Day

    Case notes
    Section 9(2)(a) OIA applied—correspondence with the requester and information supplied by the New Zealand Police suggested the requester would approach the staff outside of the official complaints process, and may have behaved in an abusive and threaten
  • Update from the Office of the Ombudsman

    Speeches
    Read the Chief Ombudsman's address to the Mental Health Nurses Section of the NZ Nurses Organisation.