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Requests for information deemed vexatious and not in good faith due to offensive language

Legislation:
Official Information Act 1982
Ombudsman:
Peter Boshier
Issue date:
Format:
PDF
Word
Language:
English

Outcome

The Ombudsman acknowledged that the complainant may have had a legitimate grievance with the actions of IR, but the approach and language used exceeded what would be considered proper and acceptable by a government department. It is not reasonable to expect an agency to tolerate requests for official information that are aggressive, offensive, or abusive.

The Ombudsman formed the final opinion that IR was entitled to refuse the four requests on the basis that the wording and language of the requests were vexatious.

Disclaimer

This case note is published under the authority of the Ombudsmen Rules 1989. It sets out an Ombudsman’s view on the facts of a particular case. It should not be taken as establishing any legal precedent that would bind an Ombudsman in future.

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