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Office of the
Ombudsmen |
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An Ombudsman is an
independent investigator who investigates complaints about the administrative
acts and decisions of central and local government agencies, investigates
complaints about the decisions of Ministers of the Crown and central and local
government agencies on requests for official information, and provides
information and guidance to employees who wish to report serious wrong-doing in
their workplace (“whistle-blowing”) and is one of the authorities to whom
serious wrong-doing can be reported.
Local government
agencies include agencies (such as regional, city and district councils)
responsible for roads, drainage, nuisance, animal control, planning and resource
and building consents.
An Ombudsman’s
investigation is free and is conducted in private. |
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Complaining to an Ombudsman (it's
easy!) |
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You can make your
complaint by using an online
complaint form
available on the Office of the Ombudsmen's website, emailing them at
complaint@ombudsmen.govt.nz or
by phoning the Office for assistance from staff on their free-phone number
0800 802 602. It helps to provide a copy of your letter of request or
details of your oral request and a copy of the agency's reply to your request.
If you have not
received a reply to your request, provide details of when and where you made it.
If you need assistance, telephone the nearest Office of the Ombudsmen. All calls
will be acknowledged promptly and you will be kept informed throughout the
investigation.
An Ombudsman will seek
the agency's response to your complaint. If information has been withheld, an
Ombudsman will view it. An Ombudsman will form an opinion on whether your
request has been dealt with correctly. If it is considered that your complaint
cannot be upheld, you will have an opportunity to respond to that view before a
final decision is made. Where appropriate, an Ombudsman may make a
recommendation to the agency. |
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Official Information Request |
Blowing the
Whistle |
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Under the
Official Information Act 1982 and the
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, you can request
official information from Government Ministers and central and local government
agencies.
If you are unhappy
with the response that you receive to an official information request (or if you
do not receive a response to your request), you can complain to an Ombudsman. |
The
Protected Disclosures Act 2000 sets up a scheme for public and private
sector employees to report serious wrong-doing in their workplace (sometimes
called 'whistle-blowing') to an appropriate authority, such as an Ombudsman.
Under the Act, if an employee makes a "protected disclosure" they will have
certain rights and protections.
The Protected
Disclosures Act:
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is about disclosure, in
the public interest, of serious wrongdoing;
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sets out the procedures
to be followed when making a disclosure; and
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provides protection to
both public and private sector employees who make disclosures in accordance
with the Act.
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Complaints About Government
Agencies |
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Under the
Ombudsmen Act 1975, an Ombudsman is able to investigate complaints about the
administrative acts, decisions, recommendations and omissions of central and
local government agencies, such as:
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government departments
including WINZ, IRD, ACC, CYFS, the Department of Labour, the Ministry of
Education and the Department of Corrections (which includes the prison
service);
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city, district or
regional councils;
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school boards of
trustees;
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universities,
polytechnics and other tertiary education institutions; and
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district health boards.
A list of the central
and local government agencies that are subject to an Ombudsman's jurisdiction,
can be found in the
First Schedule of the Ombudsmen Act. If you are unsure whether an agency
comes under an Ombudsman's jurisdiction, contact us.
Under the Ombudsmen
Act, an Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints about private individuals,
lawyers, Members of Parliament or privately-owned companies; decisions made by
courts or tribunals; decisions made by a full Council (however, an Ombudsman can
investigate complaints about the advice provided to a full Council by Council
employees); or government Ministers. |
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