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Guides

Commonly used guides include:

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

Outreach

Contains our media releases, newsletters, pamphlets, speeches and fact sheets. Fact sheets are published in multiple language and accessible formats.

Corporate documents

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.

1516 Resources Show all

Requests for information about decisions of school board declined as the request was vexatious

Case notes Tue 3 Sep 2024 A requester made three information requests to a school Board over the course of several months.

Request for names of people who wrote to the Minister of Local Government in support of the extension of Tauranga City Council Commissioners’ terms

Case notes Tue 3 Sep 2024

A complainant made a request to the Department of Internal Affairs for a list of the individuals and organisations that had expressed support to the Minister of Local Government for the extension of the Tauranga City Council Commissioners’ terms

Ombudsman Quarterly Review Winter 2024

Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR) Mon 2 Sep 2024 Read about the work we have been doing such as:

Request for official information about conditions of prison rooms

Case notes Wed 28 Aug 2024

Ara Poutama Aotearoa Department of Corrections failed to communicate a decision on a request by a prisoner for official information within the statutory timeframe.

School Board decision to exclude student unreasonable

Case notes Wed 7 Aug 2024

Chief Ombudsman investigation identified significant issues around decision making and record keeping by St Peter’s College School Board.

School Board acted unreasonably by failing to adequately communicate reasons

Case notes Wed 7 Aug 2024

The Chief Ombudsman found the Cashmere High School Board did not act unreasonably in declining enrolment for out-of-zone student.

The Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) Terms of Reference

Disability rights projects Mon 5 Aug 2024

This page contains more information about the membership of the IMM and how it operates. The IMM's Terms of Reference is also available in:

Submissions of the Chief Ombudsman on the review of adult decision-making capacity law

Submissions Thu 1 Aug 2024

The Chief Ombudsman has made submissions for the review conducted by Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission

Submission on Education and Training Amendment Bill

Submissions Thu 25 Jul 2024

This submission was made to the Education and Workforce Committee on 25 July 2024. Submission on Education and Training Amendment Bill Thank you for the opportunity to submit on the Education and Training Amendment Bill (the Bill).

Advice provided to Ministers regarding the Fast-track Approvals Bill

Opinions Mon 22 Jul 2024

The Department refused this request under section 18(d) of the Official Information Act (OIA) as the information requested was soon to be made publicly available. I have formed the final opinion that the Department’s decision was not lawful.

Requests for information about smokefree legislation

Case notes Thu 11 Jul 2024

The Chief Ombudsman received complaints from two requesters concerning decisions by the Associate Minister of Health (Associate Minister) on their requests for information about the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 and its proposed repeal. The requests also covered information on tobacco and vaping policies.

Complaints about government agencies

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024 This pamphlet explains the process for complaining about government agencies.

About the Ombudsman

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024 This pamphlet gives an overview of the Ombudsman’s role.

Official information requests

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024

This pamphlet explains what official information is, how to request it, and how the Ombudsman can help.

Reporting serious wrongdoing at work (whistleblowing)

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024

This pamphlet explains how to disclose serious wrongdoing in the workplace, and how the Ombudsman’s can help.

Making complaints about prisons and Community Corrections

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024

This pamphlet explains what the Ombudsman can do for people in prison, or on a community based sentence or order.

Disabled or Deaf? Being treated fairly by government agencies

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024 This pamphlet explains what the Ombudsman does for disabled and Deaf people.

How the Ombudsman can help

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024 This pamphlet gives an overview of what the Ombudsman does in te reo Māori and English.

Schools and the Ombudsman

Pamphlets and posters Tue 2 Jul 2024 This pamphlet explains the Ombudsman’s role in relation to schools.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of Henry Rongomau Bennett – Waiora Waikato Hospital, Hamilton

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 24 to 26 May 2022, three teams of two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf – made announced three-day inspections to Puna Maatai, Puna Awhi-rua, and Puna Poipoi Wards at Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of Te Whetu Tawera – Auckland City Hospital

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 23 to 25 August 2022, two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced three-day inspection to Te Whetu Tawera.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of Ward 6C, Dunedin Hospital

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

On 6 and 7 September 2022, two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced two-day inspection of Ward 6C, Dunedin Hospital.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of Te Whare Oranga Tangata o Whakaue Unit, Rotorua Hospital

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 23 November 2021, a team of two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced two-day inspection to the Unit.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of Ward 9A, Wakari Hospital, Dunedin

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 27 to 30 September 2022, two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced four-day inspection to Ward 9A at Wakari Hospital, Dunedin.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of Ward 9B Wakari Hospital, Dunedin

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 26 to 30 September 2022, two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced five-day inspection to Ward 9B at Wakari Hospital in Dunedin.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of He Puna Waiora Mental Health Inpatient Unit, North Shore Hospital Campus

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

Between 23 and 26 August 2022, two Inspectors – who I have authorised to visit places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced four-day inspection of the He Puna Waiora Mental Health Inpatient Unit.

Report on an announced targeted inspection of Ngā Rau Rākau, Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 23 November 2021, a team of two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an announced two-day inspection to the Unit.

Report on an announced targeted inspection of Te Puna Waiora, Taranaki Base Hospital

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 29 September 2021 a team of two inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced two-day inspection to Te Puna Waiora.

Report on an announced follow up inspection of the Inpatient Mental Health Unit - Southland Hospital

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 24 January 2023, three Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under the COTA on my behalf – made an announced four-day inspection to the Inpatient Mental Health Unit at Southland Hospital.

Report on an announced targeted inspection of Te Whare Awhiora, Gisborne Hospital

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 27 October 2021, a team of two Inspectors – whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf – made an announced two-day inspection of Te Whare Awhiora, Gisborne Hospital.

Report on an unannounced inspection of Kingsley Mortimer Unit, North Shore

OPCAT reports Tue 2 Jul 2024

From 6 to 10 March, a team of two Inspectors - whom I have authorised to carry out visits to places of detention under COTA on my behalf - made an unannounced five-day inspection to the Kingsley Mortimer Unit.