Resources and publications
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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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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.
1234 Resources Show all
Privacy: A guide to section 9(2)(a) of the OIA and section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the privacy withholding ground found in section 9(2)(a) of the OIA and section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA.Template letter 15: Advice that publication has been delayed
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to update the requester that information which was intended to be published soon has been delayed.Template letter 16: Refusal letter under section 18(h) OIA / section 17(h) LGOIMA
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter if you need to refuse a request under section 18(h) OIA / section 17(h) LGOIMA—Frivolous or vexatious request.Commercial information: A guide to sections 9(2)(b) and 9(2)(i) of the OIA and sections 7(2)(b) and 7(2)(h) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the commercial withholding grounds in sections 9(2)(b) and 9(2)(i) of the OIA and sections 7(2)(b) and 7(2)(h) of the LGOIMA.Template letter 17: Information not held—no obligation to create it
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter where you need to refuse a request because the information is not held.Template letter 18: Aggressive or abusive language
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter when you need to refuse a request due to aggressive or abusive language.Template letter 19: Refusal letter under section 18(e) OIA / section 17(e) LGOIMA—Document does not exist or cannot be found
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersThis letter can be used to refuse a request because the document does not exist / cannot be found.The OIA and the public tender process
Official informationA guide to how the OIA applies to information generated in the context of a public tender process.Template letter 20: Refusal letter under section 18(g) OIA / section 17(g) LGOIMA—Information not held
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersThis letter can be used to refuse a request because the information is not held.Confidentiality: A guide to section 9(2)(ba) of the OIA and section 7(2)(c) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the confidentiality withholding ground found in section 9(2)(ba) of the OIA and section 7(2)(c) of the LGOIMA.Template letter 21: Letter refusing information excluded from the definition of ‘official information’
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersThis letter can be used to refuse a request for information that is excluded from the OIA or LGOIMA.Template letter 22: Letter refusing information not held in Minister’s official capacity
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersThis letter can be used to refuse a request for information that is not held by a Minister in their official capacity.Confidential advice to government: A guide to section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA
Official informationOne reason for withholding official information is to ‘maintain the constitutional convention protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials’—section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA.Template letter 23: Consultation with requester before relying on section 18(e) or (g) OIA / 17(e) or (g) LGOIMA
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersAgencies must consider consulting the requester before refusing a request on the grounds that the requested document does not exist or cannot be found.Template letter 24: letter to requesters where third party consultation is necessary
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to let the requester know you need to consult an external third party.The OIA and the public policy making process: A guide to how the OIA applies to information generated in the context of the public policy making process
Official informationThis guide explains the most common reasons why it can sometimes be necessary to withhold official information generated in the context of the public policy making process.Commercial information work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet is about the most commonly used grounds for withholding commercial information—unreasonable prejudice to a third party’s commercial position, and prejudice or disadvantage to an agency’s commercial activities.Template letter 25: Consultation with third parties
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to consult an external third party on an OIA request.Negotiations work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is good reason to withhold official information under the negotiations withholding ground.Template letter 26: Informing third parties of the decision on the request
Template letters and worksheets, Template lettersUse this letter to let a third party that you’ve consulted know your decision on an OIA request.Constitutional conventions: A guide to sections 9(2)(f)(i)-(iii) of the OIA
Official informationThis guide deals with the 'constitutional conventions' withholding ground in section 9(2)(f) of the OIA.Work sheet for dealing with public tender information
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis work sheet summarises guidance on dealing with public tender-related information, including responding to OIA / LGOIMA requests for such information.Third party consultation work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis work sheet takes you through the process of consulting an external third party on an OIA request.Free and frank opinions: A guide to section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(i) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis guide deals with the 'free and frank opinions' withholding ground in section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(i) of the LGOIMA.Information not held work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is a proper basis for refusing a request for official information because the document does not exist / cannot be found or the information is not held.Work sheet for dealing with OIA requests that involve Ministers
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the process of dealing with OIA requests that involve a Minister.The OIA and draft documents: A guide to how the OIA applies to requests for draft documents
Official informationThis guide explains some of the most common reasons why it can sometimes be necessary to withhold draft documents. These reasons relate to the free and frank opinions and confidentiality withholding grounds in the OIA and LGOIMA.Work sheet for dealing with administratively challenging requests
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the process of dealing with administratively challenging official information requests.Improper pressure or harassment: A guide to section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the improper pressure or harassment withholding ground found in section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA.Legal professional privilege: A guide to section 9(2)(h) of the OIA and section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the legal professional privilege withholding ground found in section 9(2)(h) of the OIA and section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA.Public interest work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet takes you through the public interest test in section 9(1) of the OIA / section 7(1) of the LGOIMA.Confidential advice to Government work sheet
Template letters and worksheets, Worksheets and other resourcesThis summary work sheet will help you to decide whether there is good reason to withhold official information under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA, in order to maintain the constitutional convention protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials.