Open main menu Close main menu
Search by keyword

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
Search by keyword

53 Resources Show all

  • Chief Ombudsman's Annual Report 2022/2023

    Annual reports
    This year I have intensified my efforts to reach out to diverse communities around New Zealand. I have also continued my work to help lift good practices across government. This balance between the public and government is an important part of my independent role as an Officer of Parliament, and the need for me to reach out to both has become even more evident in current times.

  • Chief Ombudsman's Strategic Intentions - 2023 to 2028

    Strategic intentions
    I will maintain and strive to continually improve my existing practices in the areas of complaints-handling, proactive interventions, examination of places of detention, disability rights, and provision of agency learning and advice.

  • Chief Ombudsman's Strategic Intentions - 2022 to 2027

    Strategic intentions
    As Aotearoa New Zealand’s Ombudsman, I give effect to a number of key democratic and human rights measures aimed at safeguarding the rights of people and promoting government accountability and transparency.

  • Chief Ombudsman's Annual Report 2021/2022

    Annual reports
    Watch the introduction in New Zealand Sign Language

  • Inaugural Pūhara Mana Tangata report for 2020/2021

    Annual reports
    The Chief Ombudsman’s Māori panel – Pūhara Mana Tangata – has published a report of its first two years in operation.

  • Annual Report 2020/2021

    Annual reports
    The global COVID-19 pandemic has continued to dominate our lives in the past year, creating new challenges for us all.

  • Strategic intentions 2021-26

    Strategic intentions
    As Aotearoa New Zealand’s Ombudsman, I give effect to a number of key democratic and human rights measures aimed at safeguarding the rights of individuals and promoting government accountability and transparency.

  • Research: Access to government information (2021)

    Corporate information
    In September 2021, the Ombudsman New Zealand commissioned a research agency, UMR, to undertake a nationwide online survey of 1,005 New Zealanders aged 18 years and over, to gauge awareness of the Official Information Act (OIA) and Local Government Offic

  • International Development and Engagement Strategy (July 2020 – December 2023)

    Strategic intentions
    The International Development and Engagement Strategy has been developed to guide the international work of the Ombudsman from July 2020 to December 2023.

  • Annual Report 2019/20

    Annual reports
    COVID-19. The pandemic which swept the world in 2020 is undoubtedly the defining event of the past year. It has further defined the role of Ombudsman.

  • Pūhara Mana Tangata Terms of Reference

    Advisory groups
    These documents outline the terms of reference for Pūhara Mana Tangata, the Chief Ombudsman's Māori panel.

  • Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation between Ombudsman Thailand and the Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand

    Protocols with agencies
    On 11 February 2020 the Office of the Ombudsman Thailand and the Chief Ombudsman signed a Memorandum of Understanding, in the interest of fostering international cooperation in the field of complaint-handling, good governance, protection of human rights

  • Annual Report 2018/2019

    Annual reports
    It was a busy year. A very busy year. Using almost all measures, the level of our work increased, yet our results were, overall, very pleasing.

  • Your OIA rights and responsibilities

    Speeches
    On 13 July, Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier addressed around 800 delegates at the New Zealand School Trustees Association’s annual conference. Here is his speech. 

  • Strategic Intentions 2019/2023

    Corporate information, Strategic intentions
    Our Strategic Intentions document sets out the nature and scope of our functions, the strategic direction of our organisation, what we are hoping to achieve, and some key measures.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Strategic Intentions 2018/2022

    Strategic intentions
    Our Strategic Intentions document sets out the nature and scope of our functions, the strategic direction of our organisation, what we are hoping to achieve, and some key measures.

  • Bringing the lamp of scrutiny to otherwise dark places

    Speeches
    MBIE had an OIA week (9-13 April) to focus on lifting its performance and improving the quality of the OIA work it does. This is the keynote address from Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier.

  • Annual Report 2016/2017

    Annual reports
    In 2016/17 we achieved 700 remedies for New Zealanders—‘remedy’ being the legal term for a solution to a problem. This is an increase of 20 percent on the previous year, one of many positive figures in this year’s Annual Report. We also had 149 recommendations for improvement in places of detention accepted.

  • The critical factors of excellence

    Speeches
    Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier's address to the 2017 Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Award finalists' dinner.

  • Update from the Office of the Ombudsman

    Speeches
    Read the Chief Ombudsman's address to the Mental Health Nurses Section of the NZ Nurses Organisation.

  • Updated agreement with the Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections

    Protocols with agencies
    This updated agreement signed in August 2017 underpins the work of our agencies to ensure the humane treatment of people in legal custody.  

  • Strategic Intentions 2017/2021

    Strategic intentions
    Our Strategic Intentions document sets out the nature and scope of our functions, the strategic direction of our organisation, what we are hoping to achieve, and some key measures.

  • OIA strategy 2016/2020

    Strategic intentions
    This document lays out our strategy for working with the Official Information Act. 

  • Inside the Office of the Ombudsman

    Speeches
    An update on what's going on in the Office of the Ombudsman to increase openness, accountability, and good administration. Speech by Chief Ombudsman Judge Peter Boshier.

  • Annual Report 2015/2016 - full report

    Annual reports
    We have already begun to make great strides in the 2015/16 reporting year. Despite overall intake once again increasing, we completed 7% more work than last year and finished the year with 11% less work on hand than at the same time last year. Our overall net clearance rate for complaints was 105%, meaning that we closed 178 more complaints than we received, and so started to make significant inroads into our backlog of aged complaints.

  • Annual Report 2015/2016 - at a glance

    Annual reports
    This document shows our Annual Report for 2015/2016 at a glance.

  • Strategic Intentions 2016/2020

    Strategic intentions
    Our Strategic Intentions document sets out the nature and scope of our functions, the strategic direction of our organisation, what we are hoping to achieve, and some key measures.

  • Annual Report 2014/2015 - at a glance

    Annual reports
    This document shows our Annual Report for 2014/2015 at a glance.