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.
14 Resources Show all
Determination of ineligibility for publicly funded healthcare was wrong
Case notesComplaint about a determination by the Ministry of Health that a person was ineligible for publicly funded healthcare as they did not meet the time criteria prescribed in the Health and Disability Services Direction 2011.Overseas borrower liable for student loan debt when IR unable to contact them
Case notesThe Chief Ombudsman received a complaint from an overseas borrower about the way the Inland Revenue Department (IR) administered their student loan and the addition of interest and penalties that they were required to pay.Omission by school board to consider behavioural support prior to exclusion of student
Case notesA School Board excluded a student for ‘continual disobedience’ under the Education and Training Act 2020. The Chief Ombudsman found the Board failed to properly examine the level of support offered to the student before excluding them.Inadequate record-keeping and unreasonable decisions by school board: Student discipline
Case notesInvestigations into decisions of Bethlehem College School Board to exclude a students on the basis of ‘gross misconduct’.Lack of review mechanism for community participation services funding unreasonable
Case notesThe Chief Ombudsman received a complaint about the level of Community Participation Services provided by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).Ministerial notifications and the obligation to communicate decisions ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’
Case notesComplaint to the Ombudsman, raising Police’s obligations to communicate a decision to them ‘as soon as reasonably practicable'.Requests for information relating to the COVID-19 vaccination programme
Case notesA requester sought a broad range of clinical information provided to Medsafe by the pharmaceutical companies that were developing the COVID-19 vaccine, including safety trial data.Delay in responding to request for information about transferrals between hospitals
Case notesOn 18 February 2021, the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) received a request for official information, and transferred it to the Southern District Health Board. On 28 September 2021, the requester emailed the Board about the lack of response to her request, and made a complaint to the Ombudsman.Requests for information deemed vexatious and not in good faith due to offensive language
Case notesA complainant made a number of information requests to Inland Revenue Department for information on the same subject. IR refused four of these requests because it considered each request ‘to be offensive and an abuse of the right to access official Information’.Request for data gathered by Inland Revenue contractor
Case notesThe Ombudsman formed the opinion that it was unreasonable for IR to rely on sections 18(e) and 18(c)(i) of the OIA in this case.Council not entitled to withhold internal workshop presentation
Case notesIn September 2020, a workshop was held to discuss short-listed wastewater treatment options. No decisions about the options were made. A journalist requested a copy of the information presented at the workshop.Analyses of electronic commerce chapter of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Case notesRequest to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for analyses of electronic commerce chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and other trade negotiations.Failure of Immigration New Zealand to provide interpreter at border
Case notesIn March 2016, an Immigration New Zealand (INZ) officer interviewed the complainant upon their arrival to New Zealand. The complainant’s first language is Hindi and they speak relatively limited English. The interview was conducted in English and was video-recorded.Unreasonable decision of Board of Trustees to trespass student without opportunity to comment
Case notesThe trespass notice meant the student was unable to travel on the school bus, as the bus passed through the school’s bus bay on the way to the student’s own school. The family considered that the Board did not adequately consider the implications and complained to the Chief Ombudsman.