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.
25 Resources Show all
The OIA for Ministers and agencies: A guide to processing official information requests
Official informationThe purpose of this guide is to assist Ministers and government agencies in recognising and responding to requests for official information under the OIA.Making official information requests: A guide for requesters
Official informationIf you are seeking information from a Minister, or central or local government agency, you may be able to ask for it under either the OIA or LGOIMA.Conclusive reasons for refusing requests: A guide to the conclusive withholding grounds in section 6 of the OIA and LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to section 6 of the OIA and LGOIMA, which provides conclusive reasons for withholding official information. These reasons are not subject to a public interest test.Request for information contained in tender documents for upgrade of New Zealand’s Orion aircraft
Case notesRequester sought information contained in the tender documents for the upgrade of New Zealand’s Orion aircraft—information contained details of the proposed functional upgrade of the aircraft—release would allow an informed reader to be aware of their resultant capabilitiesRequest by charitable trust for its compliance file held by Department of Internal Affairs
Case notesRequest by charitable trust for its compliance file held by Department of Internal Affairs—information about trust provided to Department by informant in confidence and an investigation underway—Part 4 of OIA applies as request by body corporate for personal information about itself—release of the information would prejudice the Department’s current investigation and its ability to effectively carry out its role in maintaining the law in the future—s 27(1)(a) and s 6(c) appliedRequest for NZSIS files concerning two NZ scholars
Case notesWriter sought NZSIS files on two individuals—Refused under s 6—bulk of information had been provided by overseas authorities under strict confidentiality agreements—various agencies consulted—some consented to release whereas others did not—complainant agreed to contact overseas agencies directly—ss 6(a) and 6(b) applied—release contrary to agreement would compromise quality and supply of similar information in future which would prejudice NZ’s security—some information released with identifiers deletedRequest for information relating to an investigation into alleged destruction of documents held by NZDF
Case notesRequest for information relating to an investigation into alleged destruction of documents held by New Zealand Defence Force—information withheld to prevent prejudice to the outcome of those inquiries—s 6(c) applied at the time the request was refused—information later released due to change in circumstancesRequest for details of prison security system
Case notesPrison inmate sought details of prison security system and name of company who installed it—release would be likely to prejudice the integrity of systemRequest to Police for information regarding alleged threats made against Judge
Case notesRequest for information provided to Police concerning alleged threats made by person/s connected with the requester’s family—refused on the basis that disclosure would reveal identity of the informant—mixture of ’personal information’ and ‘official information’—joint investigation with Privacy CommissionerRequest by shareholder of a company to the Securities Commission for a copy of a report of an investigation carried out on the company
Case notesRequest by a shareholder of a company to the Securities Commission for copy of a report of an investigation carried out on the company—information withheld to protect the maintenance of the law and obligations of confidence—test for withholding under s 6(c) not met—s 9(2)(ba)(i) provided good reason to withhold some informationRequest for sentencing schedule database
Case notesRequest for sentencing schedule database—request declined—release of some information ‘would be likely’ to prejudice maintenance of the law—information released subject to deletionsRequest for details of APEC security arrangements
Case notesRequest for details of APEC security arrangements declined—information withheld—disclosure would be likely to prejudice effectiveness of future security arrangementsRequest for information relating to candidacy for Director-General of World Trade Organisation
Case notesRequest for specific information relating to Rt Hon Mike Moore’s candidacy for Director-General of the World Trade Organisation—request declined under s 6(a)—release would be likely to prejudice New Zealand’s international relationsRequest for information about producer board reforms
Case notesRequest for information about producer board reforms—premature disclosure of some of the information would be likely to damage seriously the economic interests of New Zealand in relation to overseas trade agreements—s 6(e)(vi)—deletions from documents not feasible therefore some documents withheld in fullRequest for manufacturer’s information of breath-testing device used by Police
Case notesRequest for technical data and manufacturer’s specifications for an evidential breath-testing device used by the Police—information withheld on basis release would disclose a trade secret, unreasonably prejudice commercial position of manufacturer and prejudice maintenance of the law—New Zealand case law suggested prosecution obliged to disclose sufficient information to defence counsel—investigation discontinued on basis that application to the Court provided adequate alternative remedyRequest for access to an application for an anti-dumping investigation
Case notesRequest for application for the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation—request refused in reliance upon s 6(a)—consideration of New Zealand’s obligations as a member of the WTO—Article 5.5 of the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement—Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act 1998—prejudice to New Zealand’s international relations would be likely to occurRequest by Land Transport Safety Authority to Police for details of ‘diversion’ of applicant seeking driver identification card
Case notesRequest by Land Transport Safety Authority to Police for details of ‘diversion’ of applicant for a driver identification card—request declined—disclosure would undermine purposes of ‘diversion scheme’—maintenance of the lawRequest by non-custodial parent for child’s prize-giving result
Case notesRequest by non-custodial parent for child’s prize-giving result—child requested results be withheld because of use made by parent of other information—meaning of ‘endanger the safety’ of a person—discussion of ‘necessary’ test—no grounds to withholdRequest for file on alleged informant
Case notesRequest for file on alleged informant—Minister neither confirmed nor denied existence of information—any confirmation or denial that a person is or has been an informant for a law enforcement agency is likely to prejudice the interest protected by section 6(c)—appropriate for the Minister to neither confirm nor deny whether the file was in existenceRequest for health information about person charged with murder
Case notesRequest for information about care of patient by mental health services of person charged with murder—information withheld under s 6(c) to avoid prejudice to right to a fair trialRequest for information relating to proposed visit of US Navy ship
Case notesRequest for information relating to proposed visit in 1985 of USS Buchanan to New Zealand—information withheld under s 6(a) and s 6(b)(i)—conventions of international diplomacy—release would be likely to prejudice the international relations of the Government and the entrusting of information by another StateRequest for information relating to alleged violation of a hospital patient
Case notesRequest for information relating to alleged violation of a hospital patient—right to a fair trial—information withheld under s 6(c) pending outcome of legal proceedings—information released after proceedings concludedRequest for papers presented to Government leading to decision to withdraw troops from Bosnia
Case notesRequest for papers presented to Government leading to decision to withdraw troops from Bosnia—extensive deletions made under ss 6(a) and 6(b)—some further information released following the investigation and reviewRequest for report prepared by External Assessments Bureau
Case notesRequest for reports on environmental damage resulting from French nuclear testing—good reason to refuse request under s 6(a) at time request refused—disclosure likely to prejudice the international relations of the Government of New ZealandRequest for information concerning United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations
Case notesInternational relations—comments by officials in relation to United Nations Working Group—‘would be likely to prejudice’ test applied—free and frank exchanges of opinions by officials at overseas post recorded in cable form—whether disclosure would inhibit expression of opinions in future