NEW ZEALAND | Annual Report highlights a pleasing year

Public sector agencies are increasingly making use of advice and resources from the Ombudsman.

In the Chief Ombudsman’s latest Annual Report, contacts for advice increased 29 percent, while more use was being made of guidance material, including the 23 new or updated guides that were published in the 2018/19 year.

Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier said that while the past year had been successful, work was well underway on the next phase of his work programme, including three key areas he would be focusing on – engagement with Māori, improving awareness of the Protected Disclosures Act (whistle-blowers), and ensuring that the rights of the disabled are at the heart of his work.

Selected highlights

• Net clearance rate of 98 percent for OIA complaints and 110 percent for LGOIMA complaints.
• Received 2,413 Ombudsmen Act complaints – clearance rate 98 percent.
• Provided advice on 440 occasions to public sector agencies, a 29 percent increase from last year.
• Completed 90 requests and enquiries for advice and guidance under the Protected Disclosures Act 2000 (‘whistleblowers’), 25 percent more than last year.
• Delivered 52 external speeches, presentations and training sessions to public sector agencies.
• Published 23 new or updated pieces of guidance material.
• Visited 40 places of detention, including 22 formal inspections, and had 92 percent of 288 recommendations for improvement accepted or partially accepted.
• Chief Ombudsman elected Regional President of the Australasian and Pacific Ombudsman Region (APOR) of the International Ombudsman Institute.

The report can be read at http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/resources-and-publications/corporate-documents

Source: Office of the Ombudsmen of New Zealand