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  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Summer 2024

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The Ombudsman Quarterly Review for Summer 2024 is out now. In this issue:
  • Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022 guide for Ministers

    Protected Disclosures Act
    This guide provides information and guidance for Ministers who may receive protected disclosures.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Spring 2023

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    In this issue the Chief Ombudsman calls for council workshops to be open by default; the Ombudsman’s new accessibility strategy; an overview of the Ombudsman’s engagements both locally and abroad; and a round up of the most popular guides on our website.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Winter 2023

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The Winter 2023 Ombudsman Quarterly Review is out now. In this issue:
  • OIA self-assessment tool

    Official information
    This self-assessment tool is one of a number of initiatives from the Chief Ombudsman's office providing support and assistance to lift public sector capability in order to improve the administration, decision-making and compliance with official informat
  • Chief Ombudsman’s opinion on OIA complaints about the refusal of Covid-19 vaccine contracts

    Official information
    Summary The Ministry of Health, Minister for COVID-19 Response, and Minister of Finance received multiple OIA requests for copies of the contracts between the Government and pharmaceutical companies for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Autumn 2023

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The Autumn 2023 Ombudsman Quarterly Review is out now.
  • FAQs about official information requests during or following extreme emergency event

    Official information
    This guide answers questions about dealing with official information requests during or following extreme emergency events. It:
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Summer 2023

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    In this issue: a first for a NZ Ombudsman at Waitangi, an illuminating piece from the architect of the Official Information Act, international news from integrity organisations in the Pacific and Australasia, new case notes and more.
  • Removing barriers: Reasonable accommodation of disabled people in Aotearoa

    Disability rights
    This guide explains what 'reasonable accommodation' is and how to do it. Available in EasyRead, Te Reo Maori and New Zealand sign language.
  • FAQs: official information requests during a general election period

    Official information
    This guide answers questions from agencies and requesters about dealing with official information requests during the general election period. It:
  • Resources

    Guides
    This page provides resources for fellow Ombudsmen and integrity institutions that may be of use in developing their own practices.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Spring 2022

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The Spring 2022 Ombudsman Quarterly Review is out now. It includes Govt agencies receive OIA report card, Oranga Tamariki’s “litany of failures” in Malachi Subecz case, Ombudsman’s disability rights role featured at the UN, 60 years of the Ombudsman in NZ, and more.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Winter 2022

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The Winter 2022 Ombudsman Quarterly Review is out now. It includes an opinion piece from Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier on the OIA and LGOIMA, Mr Boshier’s submission to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission, a systemic investigation into the use of workshops by local councils is announced, and a stronger approach to delay deemed refusal complaints.
  • He rauemi tātaki ea – A resource for offering an effective apology

    Guides
    People have the right to expect a high standard of administration by central and local government agencies. They expect agencies to act legally, fairly, and in a timely manner, and to be treated with respect in a way that is culturally appropriate.
  • Guidance on when to engage the Ombudsman in law reform proposals

    Guides
    This guidance sets out why and when an Ombudsman should be engaged in law reform process and the Ombudsman's view on some key questions that are likely to arise. 
  • Disability Rights: How is New Zealand doing?

    Disability rights
    This summary report updates the Committee, and the New Zealand Parliament and public, with recent information on the priority areas that prevent disabled people in New Zealand from realising their full suite of human rights as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
  • Checklist – Am I ready to make a protected disclosure?

    Protected Disclosures Act
    This checklist will assist if you are considering making a protected disclosure about serious wrongdoing in your workplace, or wondering whether you need more information and guidance.
  • Checklist: Protecting whistleblower confidentiality

    Protected Disclosures Act
    This checklist will assist if you or your organisation has received a protected disclosure about serious wrongdoing in your workplace.
  • Protected disclosures – guidance on internal policies and procedures

    Guides, Protected Disclosures Act
    If your organisation is looking to encourage an open reporting culture, or is currently grappling with how to handle a protected disclosure by one of your employees about serious wrongdoing in your workplace, the Ombudsman can provide guidance.
  • Ombudsman’s approach to delay complaints

    Guides
    The Chief Ombudsman has decided to make changes to his handling of delay complaints alleging breaches by public sector agencies of the maximum statutory timeframe obligations set out in the Official Information Act and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. He considers these laws to be cornerstones of New Zealand’s democracy.
  • Making a protected disclosure - a guide to "blowing the whistle"

    Protected Disclosures Act
    If you’re concerned about serious wrongdoing in or by your organisation, the Ombudsman is able to provide information and guidance.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Autumn 2022

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    This edition includes Ombudsman’s opinion on the Erebus Memorial consultation process, third report highlights overrepresentation of Māori in mental health seclusion, Chief Ombudsman elected as Second Vice President of IOI, council not entitled to withhold internal workshop presentation.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Summer 2022

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    In this issue 2022 marks 60 years since the first New Zealand Ombudsman was sworn in, Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier gravely concerned by volatile environment at intellectual disability facility, Peter Boshier reaffirms the Ombudsman’s commitment to Te Tiriti during Waitangi, Guide on regulatory policy design during COVID-19, New case notes and more.
  • FAQs about official information requests during COVID-19

    Official information
    This guide answers questions from agencies and requesters about dealing with official information requests during the COVID-19 emergency.
  • Regulatory policy design during COVID-19 pandemic

    Good administration
    This guidance is intended to assist government agencies in designing and implementing robust, fair, and fit-for-purpose, regulatory policies[1] that enable the fair administration of government policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Spring 2021

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The OQR for Spring 2021 is out. In this issue:
  • Requesting official information - a brief guide for media

    Official information
    You can request official information held by central or local government organisations1, under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) respectively.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Winter 2021

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The Ombudsman Quarterly Review (OQR) for Winter 2021 is out. In this edition:
  • Chief Ombudsman reaffirms his OPCAT Statement of Principles for places of detention during COVID-19 ‘lock down’

    Guides
    As Aotearoa New Zealand is experiencing another nationwide Alert Level 4 lockdown, the Chief Ombudsman reaffirms his statement of principles, issued last year.
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Autumn 2021

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The OQR for Autumn 2021 is out. In this issue:
  • Ombudsman Quarterly Review Summer 2021

    Ombudsman Quarterly Reviews (OQR)
    The OQR for summer 2021 is out. In this issue: