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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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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.
1464 Resources Show all
Requests for information deemed vexatious and not in good faith due to offensive language
Case notesA complainant made a number of information requests to Inland Revenue Department for information on the same subject. IR refused four of these requests because it considered each request ‘to be offensive and an abuse of the right to access official Information’.Expectations for conditions and treatment of residents in health and disability places of detention – aged care
OPCATThis resource is intended to provide an understanding of some of the matters the Chief Ombudsman considers when monitoring aged care facilities.Ombudsman Quarterly Review Autumn 2022
Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)This edition includes Ombudsman’s opinion on the Erebus Memorial consultation process, third report highlights overrepresentation of Māori in mental health seclusion, Chief Ombudsman elected as Second Vice President of IOI, council not entitled to withhold internal workshop presentation.OPCAT aged care monitoring programme
FactsheetsReport on an unannounced inspection of Ward 21, Palmerston North Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 18 and 21 May 2021, 2 Inspectors — whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf — made an unannounced four day inspection of Ward 21, Palmerston North Hospital.Report on an unannounced follow up inspection of Te Toki Maurere Unit, Whakatāne Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsThis report sets out my findings and recommendations concerning the treatment and conditions of people detained in Te Toki Maurere Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit (the Unit), which was inspected between 26 and 28 July 2021.Report on an unannounced follow up inspection of Te Whare Maiangiangi Unit, Tauranga Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 Primary tabs
OPCATThis report sets out my findings and recommendations concerning the conditions and treatment of people detained in Te Whare Maiangiangi Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit (the Unit), which was inspected on 16 and 17 August 2021.OPCAT Report: Thematic report on inspections of secure intellectual disability facilities under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsThis report provides a summary of my findings and recommendations in relation to inspections conducted between 14 August 2019 and 4 June 2020 of 17 secure residences where people with intellectual disabilities were detained. At the time of my inspections in June 2020, New Zealand was at COVID-19 Alert Level 2.Request for data gathered by Inland Revenue contractor
Case notesThe Ombudsman formed the opinion that it was unreasonable for IR to rely on sections 18(e) and 18(c)(i) of the OIA in this case.Chief Ombudsman’s opinion under the Ombudsmen Act - Erebus Memorial
OpinionsI have found that the lack of consultation by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage/Manatū Taonga before forming a preference in August 2018 for Dove-Myer Robinson Park/Taurarua as the site for the National Erebus Memorial was unreasonable.OIA and LGOIMA complaints July - December 2021
Complaints dataThis data lists the Minister or agency involved, the nature of the complaint, and whether the complaint came from a private individual, the media, a political party or other type of organisation.Council not entitled to withhold internal workshop presentation
Case notesIn September 2020, a workshop was held to discuss short-listed wastewater treatment options. No decisions about the options were made. A journalist requested a copy of the information presented at the workshop.Analyses of electronic commerce chapter of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Case notesRequest to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for analyses of electronic commerce chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and other trade negotiations.Failure of Immigration New Zealand to provide interpreter at border
Case notesIn March 2016, an Immigration New Zealand (INZ) officer interviewed the complainant upon their arrival to New Zealand. The complainant’s first language is Hindi and they speak relatively limited English. The interview was conducted in English and was video-recorded.Unreasonable decision of Board of Trustees to trespass student without opportunity to comment
Case notesThe trespass notice meant the student was unable to travel on the school bus, as the bus passed through the school’s bus bay on the way to the student’s own school. The family considered that the Board did not adequately consider the implications and complained to the Chief Ombudsman.Ombudsman Quarterly Review Summer 2022
Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)In this issue 2022 marks 60 years since the first New Zealand Ombudsman was sworn in, Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier gravely concerned by volatile environment at intellectual disability facility, Peter Boshier reaffirms the Ombudsman’s commitment to Te Tiriti during Waitangi, Guide on regulatory policy design during COVID-19, New case notes and more.FAQs about official information requests during COVID-19
Official informationThis guide answers questions from agencies and requesters about dealing with official information requests during the COVID-19 emergency.Report on an unannounced inspection of Ward 6C, Dunedin Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsExecutive summary Background Ombudsmen are designated one of the National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 (COTA), with responsibility for examining and monitoring the conditions and treatment of patiReport on an unannounced inspection of Ward 10a and Helensburgh Cottage, Wakari Hospital Dunedin, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 3 and 7 May 2021, two Inspectors made an unannounced inspection of Ward 10a and the Helensburgh Cottage, which are located in the grounds of Wakari Hospital, Dunedin.Report on an announced inspection of Manaakitanga Inpatient Unit, Te Nīkau Grey Base Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 20 and 23 April 2021, two inspectors, whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf, made an announced inspection of Manaakitanga Inpatient Unit (the Unit), which is located in the grounds of Te Nīkau Grey Base Hospital, Greymouth.Report on an unannounced inspection of Wāhi Oranga Mental Health Admission Unit, Nelson Hospital, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsBetween 29 March and 1 April 2021, Inspectors made an unannounced inspection of Wāhi Oranga Mental Health Admission Unit, which is located in the grounds of Nelson Hospital, Braemer Campus, Nelson.Report on an unannounced inspection of the Fraser McDonald Unit, Auckland District Health Board, under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989
OPCAT reportsFrom 21 to 25 June 2021 (inclusive), Inspectors — whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf — made an unannounced inspection of the Fraser McDonald Unit, which is located in the grounds of Auckland City Hospital.Requests to Ministry of Health and ESR for Covid-19 cycle threshold values
Case notesInformation requested initially refused for privacy reasons. The agencies subsequently focused on section 9(2)(c) of the OIA (to avoid prejudice to public health or safety measures).Joint Council Committees decision to exclude public from meeting not justified
Case notesPublic excluded from meeting under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 – Ombudsman found that application of section 48(1) not justified – the likelihood of harm to the Councils’ commercial operations andUnreasonable advice about decision to exclude public: Licensing Trust
Case notesPublic excluded from meeting under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 – Ombudsman found that Trust acted unreasonably — no clear basis for advice provided by Chief Executive that public should be excludeRegulatory policy design during COVID-19 pandemic
Good administrationThis guidance is intended to assist government agencies in designing and implementing robust, fair, and fit-for-purpose, regulatory policies[1] that enable the fair administration of government policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.Delay in responding to a request for information about cannabis-related medicines
Case notesFailure by the Ministry of Health to make and communicate a decision on a request for official information within extended time limit— contrary to law— decision to extend the time limit also unreasonableRequests for vaccine pricing and contracted delivery schedules
Case notesRequest for information about vaccine pricing and delivery schedules – information subject to an obligation of confidence in terms of section 9(2)(ba)(ii) – the interest in withholding the information not outweighed by the public interest in release.Unreasonable extension of time limit for internal consultations
Case notesRequest for information about OIA statistics—extension to time limit for responding to request – notified on basis of need to undertake consultations—internal review and sign-out process is part of making a decision and not consultation for the purpose of s15A – decision to extend unreasonableOmbudsman Quarterly Review Spring 2021
Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)The OQR for Spring 2021 is out. In this issue:Waka Tangata: APOR E-news (November 2021)
Waka TangataRequest for information concerning increase in number of cochlear implants
Case notesSection 9(2)(f)(iv) OIA applied to costing information and detailed analysis regarding unsuccessful Budget 2020 bid which had been resubmitted for consideration through the 2021 Budget process – small amount of high level information about the exist