BackDame Beverley Wakem DNZM CBE, whose term as Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand was due to expire in March 2015, took the occasion of the 2014 Meeting of the IOI Board of Directors to resigned from her office as IOI President and bid farewell to her fellow Board members.
The Office of the Ombudsman New Zealand is in the process of conducting an important review of the Official Information Act. Furthermore the Office is currently reviewing its operating model in order manage cases more efficiently and to reduce the existing backlog of cases. The Officers of Parliament Committee therefore agreed that “it would be beneficial to retain Dame Beverley’s leadership to see this work through until a new appointment is made to her position.”
Dame Beverley will therefore continue in office as Chief Ombudsman until the selection process for a new Chief Ombudsman is finalized and the appointment is made. The Officers of Parliament Committee inform about the process intended to follow for the appointment of a new Chief Ombudsman in a report (see below); the appointment of the new Chief Ombudsman is expected before the end of the year.
