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Resources and publications

Ngā rauemi me ngā tānga

Search our guides, case notes, opinions, reports and other information. Our resources and publications can also be searched by date and other options. 

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1151 Resources Show all

  • Charging work sheet

    Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resources
    This summary work sheet takes you through the process of deciding whether or not to charge for the supply of official information, and if so, how much.

  • Fact sheet: Accident Compensation Corporation

    Factsheets
    This fact sheet explains the Ombudsman's role in relation to complaints made against the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). Also available in Easy Read format.

  • Fact sheet: Earthquake Commission

    Factsheets
    This fact sheet explains the Ombudsman's role in relation to complaints made against the Earthquake Commission (EQC). Also available in Easy Read format.

  • Fact sheet: Immigration New Zealand

    Factsheets
    This fact sheet explains the Ombudsman's role in relation to complaints made against Immigration New Zealand. Also available in Easy Read format.

  • Fact sheet: Inland Revenue Department

    Factsheets
    This fact sheet explains the Ombudsman's role in relation to complaints made against the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). Also available in Easy Read format.

  • Fact sheet: Work and Income

    Factsheets
    This fact sheet explains the Ombudsman's role in relation to complaints made against Work and Income. Also available in Easy Read format.

  • Complaining about goods and services

    This is a teaching resource about the language of complaint. It is for teachers working with people who are not confident speaking and writing English and are free for anyone to use. You can use the leaflets and case studies on this page to help with teaching the topics.

  • Is it OK to complain?

    This is a teaching resource about the language of complaint. It is for teachers working with people who are not confident speaking and writing English and are free for anyone to use. You can use the leaflets and case studies on this page to help with teaching the topics.

  • Making complaints about government agencies

    Pamphlets and posters
    A pamphlet explaining what the Ombudsman can do for you, the complaints process, and what happens when you make your complaint. Available in Easy Read and Large Print formats, plus versions in Te Reo Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Mandarin and Hindi. Or, view a short YouTube video in New Zealand Sign language called "Making complaints about government agencies".

  • Making complaints about prisons and Community Corrections

    Pamphlets and posters
    A pamphlet on making a complaint about prisons and Community Corrections. It covers: What can the Ombudsman do for you?; What happens when you make a complaint?; and the complaints process. Available in Easy Read and Large Print formats, plus versions in Te Reo Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Mandarin and Hindi.

  • Monitoring places of detention

    Pamphlets and posters
    A pamphlet explaining the Ombudsman's role as a National Preventive Mechanism, what the Ombudsman looks at when monitoring places of detention, and other National Preventive Mechanisms. Available in Large Print and Easy Read formats, plus versions in Te Reo Maori, Hindi, Korean, Tongan, Samoan, and Mandarin. Or, watch a short YouTube video in New Zealand Sign language called "Monitoring places of detention".

  • Where to get more help resolving a complaint

    Sometimes when we make a complaint we’re not happy with the response we get. If we are unhappy with how our complaint has been dealt with, we may need to take it further. This is a teaching resource about the language of complaint. It is for teachers working with people who are not confident speaking and writing English and are free for anyone to use.

  • Whistle-blowing: A guide to the Protected Disclosures Act

    Pamphlets and posters
    If you want to report serious wrong doing in your work place, this pamphlet explains how the Ombudsman may be able to help you. Available in Easy Read and Large Print formats, plus versions in Te Reo Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Mandarin and Hindi. Or, view a short YouTube video in New Zealand Sign Language called the Protected Disclosures Act and the Ombudsman's role in it.

  • Writing to complain

    A guide to writing a letter of complaint. This is a teaching resource about the language of complaint. It is for teachers working with people who are not confident speaking and writing English and are free for anyone to use. You can use the leaflets and case studies on this page to help with teaching the topics.

  • Plan for the next Making Disability Rights Real report

    Projects, reference & data, Disability rights projects
    In mid- to late 2019, New Zealand’s compliance with the United Nations Disability Convention will be reviewed. Find out more about this and how to make a submission.

  • Fair treatment for people with disabilities

    Pamphlets and posters
    This pamphlet provides information about the Ombudsman's role under the Disabilities Convention. Available in Large Print and Easy Read formats, plus versions in Te Reo Maori, Hindi, Korean, Tongan, Samoan, and Mandarin.

  • The Ombudsman: who we are

    Pamphlets and posters
    A pamphlet explaining what the Ombudsman does. Available in Easy Read and Large Print formats, plus versions in Te Reo Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Mandarin and Hindi. Or, watch this five-minute YouTube video (in New Zealand Sign Language) on what the Ombudsman does.

  • Measures protecting public health and safety – request to New Zealand Police for video footage of tasered goat

    Case notes
    New Zealand Police (Police) received a request from a journalist for video footage of an incident in December 2016 during which a goat was tasered.

  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Spring 2018

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The Spring 2018 edition of the Ombudsman Quarterly Review is here now.

  • APOR conference 2018: Opening address

    Speeches
    President of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and Ombudsman for the Republic of Ireland, Peter Tyndall, opened the 30th Australasian and Pacific Ombudsman Region (APOR) conference on 28 November 2018 by calling on integrity institu

  • Submission of the Chief Ombudsman – Protected Disclosures Act consultation

    Projects, reference & data, Submissions
    The State Services Commission held a public consultation on possible reform of the PDA in 2018. The Chief Ombudsman made a submission, which is now available to read.

  • Investigation into Horowhenua District Council’s email quarantining practice

    Opinions
    Between 2011 and 2017, the Horowhenua District Council kept a list of people whose emails were deemed to pose a risk to staff. This list included the names of some of the Council’s own elected officials.

  • Decision to impose conditions on the release of National Stadium reports to councillors

    Case notes
    The Auckland Council received two reports as part of a pre-feasibility study on the potential for a new National Stadium and Precinct in downtown Auckland.

  • Tackling dementia: Protecting the rights of detained people

    Speeches
    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier's presentation to the Alzheimers New Zealand conference on 25 October 2018 outlined how the OPCAT provides an international platform for effecting national change to protect the human rights of some of our most vulnerable people: those with dementia who are detained in facilities.

  • Annual Report 2017/2018

    Annual reports
    In the past year, we have made some excellent progress in key areas, none more so than by clearing our backlog of complaints, a bugbear both for us and the public. We have been quicker and more efficient in resolving complaints, but with no reduction in the quality or efficacy of our work. Specific cases we have dealt with this year are contained in this report, and they showcase the breadth and depth of the work we are tasked to undertake.

  • Protecting the rights of detained people

    Speeches
    The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier's presentation to the New Zealand Aged Care Association's annual conference on 12 September 2018.

  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Winter 2018

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The winter 2018 edition of the Ombudsman Quarterly Review is here now.

  • OIA compliance and practice at the Department of Conservation

    Official Information Practice Investigations
    The report of the Chief Ombudsman's investigation into OIA compliance and practice at the Department of Conservation.

  • OIA compliance and practice at Land Information New Zealand

    Official Information Practice Investigations
    The report of the Chief Ombudsman's investigation into OIA compliance and practice at Land Information New Zealand.

  • OIA compliance and practice at the Ministry for the Environment

    Official Information Practice Investigations
    The report of the Chief Ombudsman's investigation into OIA compliance and practice at the Ministry for the Environment.

  • OIA compliance and practice at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

    Official Information Practice Investigations
    The report of the Chief Ombudsman's investigation into OIA compliance and practice at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

  • OIA complaints completed 1 January - 30 June 2018

    Complaints data
    The Chief Ombudsman publishes data on OIA complaints received against Ministers and agencies on a six-monthly basis.