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Ombudsman New Zealand
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What the Ombudsman can help with
Ngā mea ka taea e te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata te āwhina
Complaints about government agencies
How the Ombudsman works
How to make a complaint
Tips for resolving a complaint with a government agency
The complaints process
Complain for someone else
Requests for official information
Make a request for official information
Your ability to request official information
Children in care
Children in care resources
Oversight of Oranga Tamariki
Serious wrongdoing at work (whistleblowing)
Hara nui ki te mahi (whio wīhara)
Make a protected disclosure
Protections for whistle-blowing
Monitoring places of detention
How OPCAT inspections work
Why the Ombudsman monitors places of detention
Inspection powers
Aged care monitoring
OPCAT inspections of aged care facilities
Fair treatment for disabled people
Monitoring COVID-19 managed isolation and quarantine facilities
MIQ complaints
Wider improvement
How the Ombudsman chooses what to investigate
The systemic intervention process
Improving official information practice
International Development & Engagement
The Ombudsman’s international engagement
Resources
Learning videos
Chief Ombudsman’s International Ombudsman Self-Assessment Tool
Opportunities and projects for international integrity organisations
Waka Tangata: APOR E-News
Others who can help
Ētahi atu tari hei āwhina
Complaints A-Z
Agency assistance
Āwhina umanga
Official information calculators
Resources for agencies
Chief Ombudsman's OIA Self-Assessment tool
Advice and training
Consulting the Ombudsman
Care agencies in the Oranga Tamariki system
Te Puna Mātauranga
About the Ombudsman
Mō te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata
What the Ombudsman does
Stories
Who is the Ombudsman?
Who can the Ombudsman investigate?
Past, present and future
Past Ombudsmen
Disability Advisory Panel
Pūhara Mana Tangata
Structure
Keeping things fair – a fairness teaching resource
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Rongo kōrero
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Ngā rauemi me ngā tānga
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Go to Nau mai - our site for children in care
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What the Ombudsman can help with
Ngā mea ka taea e te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata te āwhina
The Ombudsman's primary role is to investigate complaints against government agencies, but they have other important responsibilities as well.
In this section
Complaints about government agencies
You have the right to be treated fairly by the public sector agencies you deal with. If you believe you haven't been, you can complain to the Ombudsman.
Requests for official information
You can request official information from government ministers and central and local government agencies.
Children in care
Talk to us if you are worried about something Oranga Tamariki or one of its care or custody providers has done.
Serious wrongdoing at work (protected disclosure)
The Ombudsman can provide assistance if you want to make a disclosure about serious wrongdoing at work and be protected.
Monitoring places of detention
The Ombudsman visits places where people are detained to check their treatment and conditions.
Aged care monitoring
The Ombudsman monitors the treatment and conditions of people who are detained in health and disability facilities, including aged care facilities.
Fair treatment for disabled people
The Ombudsman monitors the rights of disabled people and investigates related complaints about government agencies.
Monitoring COVID-19 managed isolation and quarantine facilities
The Ombudsman will monitor the treatment and conditions of people who are detained in COVID-19 managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
MIQ complaints
If you’re not satisfied with the response you receive about an MIQ complaint, you can complain to the Ombudsman.
Wider improvement
The Ombudsman can investigate wider systemic issues where they see the need, even if no one has made a complaint.
International Development & Engagement
The Ombudsman collaborates with international counterparts through training, advice and resource development.
