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.
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.
16 Resources Show all
Request for faxes annotated with advice from General Counsel
Case notesRequest for copies of faxes sent to New Zealand Dairy Board by the requester and any information generated by them—faxes annotated with advice from General Counsel—request declined under s 9(2)(h)—Board agrees to waive privilege and information releasedRequest for videotape of Police interview
Case notesRequest for videotape of Police interview—videotape withheld under s 9(2)(a)—strong public interest in the requester knowing how the Police had conducted its inquiries and responses given—release of transcript, subject to deletions, would meet public interestRequest by unsuccessful applicant for comparative information about himself and successful applicant
Case notesRequest by unsuccessful applicant for comparative information about himself and successful applicant—all information about requester released to him—detailed personal information about successful applicant withheld under s 9(2)(a)—requester seeking to establish why his application unsuccessful—matter resolved by provision of s 23 statement of reasons and a summary of successful applicant’s qualifications and work experience—s 16Request by TVNZ for names of companies providing Department of Social Welfare with transcripts or videos of TVNZ programmes
Case notesRisk of litigation is not an unreasonable prejudice—public interest in release of information enabling pursuit of legal rights and remediesRequests for information about decision making declined for being vexatious
Case notesRequests for further information declined under s 18(h)—requests not frivolous or vexatious—the information had not previously been made available Request to Apple and Pear Marketing Board involved substantial collation or research and the creation of explanations— ss 18(f) and 18(g) applyInappropriate public exclusion by local authority
Case notesDecision of local authority’s Environmental and Planning Committee to exclude the public from part of a meeting at which a draft regional policy statement was considered—inappropriate use of s 48(1)(d)Request for reasons for decision not to interview job applicant
Case notesRequest by unsuccessful applicant for statement of reasons for non-selection for interview—vague, non-specific statement provided—following review fuller statement identifying factors taken into account providedRequest by unsuccessful applicant for successful applicant’s performance agreement
Case notesRequest by unsuccessful applicant for successful applicant’s performance agreement—portions of agreement withheld under s 9(2)(a)—information at issue found to be about job requirements not personal about the jobholder—information released.Request for Crown Health Enterprise Business Plans
Case notesRequest for Crown Health Enterprise Business Plans—request refused on commercial grounds—some information protected by ss 9(2)(i) and 9(2)(j)—public interest in disclosure substantially met by release of balance of plansRequest to Minister of Immigration for copy of list of overstayers
Case notesRequest for copy of list of overstayers—request refused under s 9(2)(a)—list held compiled for internal 'alert' purposes and not necessarily accurate—privacy interest—no countervailing public interest considerations which outweighed need to withholdRequest for curricula vitae of applicants selected for interview
Case notesRequest for curricula vitae of applicants selected for interview—information withheld under s 9(2)(a)—summaries made available under s 16Request for Annual Report of a State-Owned Enterprise
Case notesRequest for Annual Report of a State-Owned Enterprise—request refused under s 18(d)—ss 15(1) and 17(2)(b) of State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986 regulate manner in which Annual Report to be made available—s 52(3)(b)(ii)—s 18(d) applies provided release in accordance with statutory timeframesRequest for the contract regarding sale of Railway houses
Case notesRequest for copy of contract between NZRC and Stone Key Investments Ltd regarding sale of railway houses—refused as ‘commercially confidential’—contract document itself was not simply a standard form Agreement for Sale and Purchase with price and special conditions added, but was a specially drafted document which reflected the negotiating positions adopted by both parties—release would unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of Stone Key Investments—s 9(2)(b)(ii)—release was so likely to ‘prejudice or disadvantage’ the Corporation in future sales of surplus land that it was necessary to withhold the information at issue—s 9(2)(i)—sale agreement retained two key factors of the Corporation’s previous sales policy relating to its obligations as a ‘good employer’—public interest in disclosure of the manner in which those undertakings had been incorporated into the contract—public interest in disclosure of information enabling an assessment to be made of whether the Corporation had acted responsibly and obtained a ‘fair market price’—written summary releasedPolytechnic and inadequate complaints procedure to deal with sexual harassment complaint—ex gratia payment
Case notesPolytechnic failed to have proper procedures in place to handle complaint from student concerning sexual harassment—Polytech agreed that it had not dealt with the matter with urgency and had an inadequate complaints procedure in place—ex gratia payment was offered to the student for this reason, not because the claims of sexual harassment had been made out, although there was an indication that prima facie a case had been made out that unacceptable behaviour by a tutor had occurred—Polytech apologised, offering ex gratia payment and undertook to improve its complaints handling proceduresLocal Authority required to withdraw notification of excess water charges
Case notesCharging for water by quantity consumed—notification—charges not based on a bylaw—s26 of the Rating Powers Act 1988Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries delays finding options to resolve infestation incurring loss to landowner
Case notesImposition of quarantine restrictions on land due to noxious plant infestation—no entitlement to compensation for loss of production—unreasonable delay in implementing effective remedy