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.
288 Resources Show all
Release of recording or transcript of a speech by then Minister Hon Kiritapu Allan
OpinionsThree people made requests to Radio New Zealand (RNZ) for audio recordings of a speech made by then Minister Hon Kiritapu Allan, in her personal capacity, at a farewell ceremony which RNZ organised for the Minister’s then fiancée, Ms Māni Dunlop.Request for communications regarding Minister Kiritapu Allan
OpinionsAn MP made a request to the MBIE for correspondence regarding the behaviour or conduct of the Minister for Justice and Regional Development, and Associate Minister for Transport and Finance, Hon Kiritapu Allan.Former Minister Hon Stuart Nash's communications with donors
OpinionsOn 8 June 2021 a freelance journalist made a request to the then Minister Stuart Nash, for ‘correspondence and details of the nature and substance of any other communication since the start of 2020’ with 19 named individuals.Confidentiality: A guide to section 9(2)(ba) of the OIA and section 7(2)(c) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the confidentiality withholding ground found in section 9(2)(ba) of the OIA and section 7(2)(c) of the LGOIMA.Privacy: A guide to section 9(2)(a) of the OIA and section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the privacy withholding ground found in section 9(2)(a) of the OIA and section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA.Request for Associate Minister's letter concerning Let's Get Wellington Moving
OpinionsThe Hon Julie Anne Genter, Associate Minister of Transport (Associate Minister) sent a letter to the Hon Phil Twyford, Minister of Transport (Minister) during pre-consultation on the Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) indicative package draft Cabinet paRequest for information on public service chief executive pay and remuneration
Case notesRequest for information on chief executive pay and remuneration—s 9(2)(a) did not provide good reason to withhold total chief executive pay—disclosure recommended by the Chief Ombudsman—s 9(2)(a) did provide good reason to withhold individual componRequest for Police Commissioner’s letter to the Minister about Deputy Commissioner
Case notesRequest for letter written by the Police Commissioner to the Minister of Police about response to Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) findings on bullying complaints about Deputy Police Commissioner—s 9(2)(a) applied—information related to tRequest for political consultation emails
OpinionsThe Minister of State Services refused to provide two emails that revealed the comments provided by the Green Party in response to consultation on a proposed Cabinet paper.Request for emails generated in the course of the Ombudsman’s preliminary inquiries
Case notesThis case note relates to the Ombudsman’s investigation and review of a decision by the Ministry of Education to redact some information from its email responses to the Ombudsman’s preliminary inquiries.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.Public interest: A guide to the public interest test
Official informationThe grounds for withholding official information in section 9 of the OIA and section 7 of the LGOIMA are subject to a ‘public interest test’.This is a guide to how the public interest test works in practice.Commercial information: A guide to sections 9(2)(b) and 9(2)(i) of the OIA and sections 7(2)(b) and 7(2)(h) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the commercial withholding grounds in sections 9(2)(b) and 9(2)(i) of the OIA and sections 7(2)(b) and 7(2)(h) of the LGOIMA.The OIA and the public tender process
Official informationA guide to how the OIA applies to information generated in the context of a public tender process.Confidential advice to government: A guide to section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA
Official informationOne reason for withholding official information is to ‘maintain the constitutional convention protecting the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials’—section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the OIA.The OIA and the public policy making process: A guide to how the OIA applies to information generated in the context of the public policy making process
Official informationThis guide explains the most common reasons why it can sometimes be necessary to withhold official information generated in the context of the public policy making process.Constitutional conventions: A guide to sections 9(2)(f)(i)-(iii) of the OIA
Official informationThis guide deals with the 'constitutional conventions' withholding ground in section 9(2)(f) of the OIA.Free and frank opinions: A guide to section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(i) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis guide deals with the 'free and frank opinions' withholding ground in section 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(i) of the LGOIMA.The OIA and draft documents: A guide to how the OIA applies to requests for draft documents
Official informationThis guide explains some of the most common reasons why it can sometimes be necessary to withhold draft documents. These reasons relate to the free and frank opinions and confidentiality withholding grounds in the OIA and LGOIMA.Improper pressure or harassment: A guide to section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the improper pressure or harassment withholding ground found in section 9(2)(g)(ii) of the OIA and section 7(2)(f)(ii) of the LGOIMA.Legal professional privilege: A guide to section 9(2)(h) of the OIA and section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the legal professional privilege withholding ground found in section 9(2)(h) of the OIA and section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA.Negotiations: A guide to section 9(2)(j) of the OIA and section 7(2)(i) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the negotiations withholding ground found in section 9(2)(j) of the OIA and section 7(2)(i) of the LGOIMA.Improper gain or advantage: A guide to section 9(2)(k) of the OIA and section 7(2)(j) of the LGOIMA
Official informationThis is a guide to the improper gain or advantage withholding ground found in section 9(2)(k) of the OIA and section 7(2)(j) of the LGOIMA.Request for business plan for Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre
Case notesCompetitors could copy or adopt third party’s methodology and strategy and devise plans based on its established operating systems which would unreasonably prejudice its commercial position—information subject to an explicit obligation of confidence and of a confidential nature—release would damage the public interest by making suppliers reluctant to participate in future procurement processesRequest for draft guidelines on religious instruction and observance in schools
Case notesOfficials still in the process of drafting—premature disclosure in advance of the planned public consultation process was not in the overall public interestRequest for cost of fees paid to a law firm
Case notesRelease of total fees would not unreasonably prejudice third party’s commercial positionRequest for expenditure on goods and services provided by Palantir Technologies
Case notesRelease of total cost would not unreasonably prejudice third party’s commercial position—public interest in accountability for spending public moneyRequest for agency peer review of Family Violence Death Review Committee draft annual report
Case notesRelease of free and frank comments made in the context of peer reviewing a draft annual report would inhibit the expression of similar comments in future—s 9(2)(g)(i) appliedRequest for cost of recruiting Vice-Chancellor
Case notesRelease of total cost would not unreasonably prejudice third party’s commercial position—no specific negotiations—release of total costs would not deter businesses from treating with government—public interest in accountability for spending public moneyRequest for due diligence report, site visit reports and reference checks
Case notesSection 9(2)(ba)(i) applies in part to the due diligence report and to the correspondence from supplier—public interest in accountability of Department for steps taken to satisfy itself regarding supplier’s performance—sections 9(2)(ba)(i) and 9(2)(g)(i) apply to information obtained from site visits, but not to the executive summary of the reports—public interest in accountability for decision to award contract—sections 9(2)(ba)(i) applies to reference checks—release would deter referees from providing full and complete information in future—public interest requires release of summary information about the reference checksRequest for information associated with PHARMAC’s 2016/17 budget bid
Case notesPHARMAC did not have a commercial position and was not engaged in commercial activities—s 9(2)(j) applies to information about PHARMAC’s willingness to pay for pharmaceuticals but not to PHARMAC’s indicative budget in out-years