Resources and publications
Ngā rauemi me ngā tānga
Search guides, case notes, opinions, reports and other information. Resources and publications can also be searched by date and other options.
Use the search bar to make your search. Then use the filters to narrow down the results by resource type or topic.
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.
33 Resources Show all
When to contact the Ombudsman about natural disaster insurance complaints
FactsheetsToka Tu Ake EQC provides natural disaster damage insurance for residential buildings and some residential land.Our children in care complaint process – adult view
FactsheetsThis diagram shows how to make a complaint about Oranga Tamariki or one of its Care or Custody Providers.Our children in care complaint process – child view
FactsheetsThis diagram shows a simplified view of our complaints process, which is designed for children and young people in the Oranga Tamariki system.Getting ready - Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Act implementation
FactsheetsThe Ombudsman is committed to being in a stronger position to consider complaints, investigate and monitor serious and significant issues. Read this factsheet to see how the Ombudsman has prepared for this role.Factsheet: Chief Ombudsman’s role examining and monitoring aged care facilities
FactsheetsNew Zealand has made an international commitment to make sure detained people are being treated in the right way and are living in a humane environment.Information for residents' point of contact: Upcoming inspection by the Chief Ombudsman’s team
FactsheetsA letter to residents of aged care facilities where the Chief Ombudsman is carrying out an inspection.OPCAT aged care monitoring programme
FactsheetsInvestigation framework: Administration of the Managed Isolation Allocation System by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Hīkina Whakatutuki
FactsheetsThe Chief Ombudsman has started a broad investigation into the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Hīkina Whakatutuki (MBIE)’s administration of the Managed Isolation Allocation System (MIAS).Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ)
FactsheetsThis fact sheet focuses on complaints about MBIE’s acts and decisions that affect people in relation to MIQ.Legal framework for Chief Ombudsman’s inspections of health & disability facilities
FactsheetsInspecting places of detention helps to ensure that people who are deprived of their liberty are treated humanely, and their rights are protected and restored.Info sheet for detainees in MIQ facilities
FactsheetsThis information sheet is for people detained in a managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facility and sets out what is involved in an inspection by the Chief Ombudsman.OPCAT: Ombudsman and IPCA are visiting court facilities
OPCAT, FactsheetsOmbudsman and IPCA are visiting court facilities Update: August 2020Upcoming OPCAT inspection by Chief Ombudsman’s team
FactsheetsInformation for residents of a facility that is being inspected, and their family and whanau.Expectations for OPCAT COVID-19 Inspections
FactsheetsPurpose Inspecting places of detention helps to ensure that people who are deprived of their liberty are treated humanely, and their rights are respected and protected.Orientation visits: First step in developing aged care inspections programme
FactsheetsOur first step in developing our new inspections programme is to familiarise ourselves with privately-run aged care facilities.Fact sheet: Aged care monitoring
FactsheetsThis fact sheet sets out why the Ombudsman is monitoring privately-run aged care facilities, and how the monitoring will differ from existing audits and reviews.Submission of the Ombudsman - OIA consultation July 2019
Projects, reference & data, SubmissionsIn March, the Ministry of Justice announced a public consultation on matters relating to the Official Information Act.Fact sheet: Accident Compensation Corporation
FactsheetsThis 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
FactsheetsThis 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
FactsheetsThis 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
FactsheetsThis 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
FactsheetsThis fact sheet explains the Ombudsman's role in relation to complaints made against Work and Income. Also available in Easy Read format.Submission of the Chief Ombudsman – Protected Disclosures Act consultation
Projects, reference & data, SubmissionsThe 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.Submission of the Ombudsman - Education (Update) Amendment Bill 2016
SubmissionsWhile we agree that on-line learning can make an important contribution to education, we are concerned about the breadth of the proposed Communities of On-Line Learning (COOL) scheme, and in particular the apparently unrestricted ability of any stSubmission of the Ombudsman - Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled
SubmissionsThe Office of the Ombudsman strongly supports New Zealand acceding to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled.Submission of the Ombudsman - Small Passenger Services Sector Review
SubmissionsThe Office of the Ombudsman is concerned that the review has not given enough attention to issues of safety and disability (issues that are central to fitness and purpose), and focussed too heavily on accommodating and potentially aligning current taxiSubmission of the Ombudsman - Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill
SubmissionsThis submission relates to the information management requirements of clause 275B of the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill.Submission of the Ombudsman - Environmental Reporting Bill
SubmissionsIt is in the interests of all New Zealanders to have comprehensive and reliable information available regularly on environmental issues that affect all of us. I do however have significant concerns with one aspect of the bill, namely clause 16, under which the Secretary for the Environment (MFE) and the Government Statistician can veto release of information to be used in an environmental report.Submission of the Ombudsman - Prisoners' and Victims' (Continuation and Reform) Amendment Bill
SubmissionsWe are concerned that the victims’ claims scheme, which the Bill makes permanent, provides neither a suitable way to compensate victims of crime nor a suitable way to prevent abuse or mistreatment of prisoners in accordance with New Zealand’s international obligations.Submission of the Ombudsmen - Education Amendment Bill
SubmissionsThis submission relates to clause 158X of the Education Amendment Bill currently before the Education and Science Committee.Submission of the Ombudsmen - Mixed Ownership Model Bill
SubmissionsOur submission concerns clauses 6 and 7 of the Mixed Ownership Model (MOM) Bill, which remove the MOM companies from being subject to the OA and OIA. These Acts are important accountabilSubmission of the Ombudsmen - Corrections Amendment Bill
SubmissionsWe had a limited opportunity to comment on the draft Corrections Amendment Bill (the Bill) and some amendments were made as a consequence of our submissions. However, there remain other matters which concern us.