Back-
Ombudsman New Zealand celebrates 60th anniversary
The Ombudsman New Zealand was established on 1 October 1962, the first Ombudsman’s office outside of Scandinavia. The 60th anniversary was celebrated at a Parliamentary event on 12 October, hosted by the Minister for the Public Service Hon Chris Hipkins. Special guests included International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) President and Western Australian Ombudsman Chris Field and Ombudsmen of the Asia Pacific Region – from the Tongan Ombudsman to the Control Yuan Taiwan. Former New Zealand Ombudsmen Sir Anand Satyanand, Dame Beverley Wakem, Sir Brian Elwood, Leo Donnelly and David McGee QC also attended, along with descendants of the first New Zealand Ombudsman, Sir Guy Powles.
“We were delighted by the strong show of support from our international Ombudsman whanau”, said Chief Ombudsman for New Zealand and IOI Second Vice-President Peter Boshier. “It was the first time so many of us had been able to get together since pre-COVID-19 times.”
As guest speaker President Field praised New Zealand’s contribution to the international Ombudsman community and the citizens it serves.
“The Ombudsman of New Zealand has been a leader in ensuring that dealings between the State and citizens are universally and unwaveringly fair and dignified. There is no question in my mind that the Ombudsman of New Zealand embodies the very essence of the Venice Principles and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution, ‘The role of Ombudsman and mediator institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights, good governance and the rule of law’.
“The Ombudsman of New Zealand is one of the oldest, and now largest, Ombudsman offices in the world. It has all the gravitas that its rich history bestows upon it, but is an absolutely modern Ombudsman institution whose mandate, particularly in relation to human rights, has expanded significantly in recent years.”
President Field noted that New Zealand Ombudsmen have held the office of President three times in the IOI’s 44-year history, more than any other country. Past IOI Presidents include Sir Brian Elwood, Dame Beverley Wakem and Sir John Robertson.
In his address Mr Boshier celebrated “not just the Ombudsman New Zealand, but how this phenomenon has grown worldwide and is now part of the international democratic framework. The world’s Ombudsmen have consistency. We talk the same language and have the same aspirations”, he said.”
Mr Boshier emphasised a shared commitment to seeking “fairness for all” and the need to put people at the centre of everything we do. He quoted a Māori proverb or whakataukī which rings true for all Ombudsmen:
Ui mai ki ahau he aha te mea nui o tea o nei?
Māku e kī atu
“Ask me, what is the most important thing in this world?
I would say to you, it is people. It is people. It is people.”
To mark its 60th anniversary the Ombudsman New Zealand has produced a documentary, “Our first 60 years – the Ombudsman in Aotearoa New Zealand” – please enjoy viewing it.
Source: Office of the Ombudsman, New Zealand
