Ombudsman NZ

16/08/2026

Our community engagement team connected with students at career open days for Te Herenga Waka -Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Auckland- Waipapa Taumata Rau. We had the opportunity to speak with a large number of students about career opportunities at the Office of the Ombudsman, including our upcoming internship programme. There was strong interest in learning more about what we do, how we support communities with complaints, and the types of interns the office likes to hire.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with us, we hope to see some of you working with us in the future!

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau

14/08/2026

The Chief Ombudsman John Allen appeared on RNZ’s Afternoons radio programme to talk about making requests under the Official Information Act. John spoke to host Jesse Mulligan about how the OIA works, what information can be requested and how this law can help inform voters during the election period. Listen to the full interview here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2019047663/what-is-the-official-information-act-and-why-do-we-need-it

RNZ Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

13/08/2026

From now until November 7 we are in the pre-election period and access to accurate and reliable information is important. If you request Official Information from a government department or ministry, we’ve developed some useful tips to help you get access to information in a timely way. Click the link to our website below to take a look and make sure you are following our guidance if you aren’t doing so already.

The Ombudsman supports transparency and promotes confidence in New Zealand’s democratic process. We help guide government on good Official Information Act (OIA) administration and receive complaints from the public if they are unhappy with the response to their OIA requests.

View here: https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/oia-and-you-election-2026

11/08/2026

Sharing some highlights from the recent engagements with our Thai Ombudsman staff meeting with communities in Auckland and Wellington. Special mention to His Excellency Mr Mongkol Visitstump, Thai Ambassador to New Zealand for hosting us and our Thai short-term placements attendees.

During the meeting with the Thai Ambassador to New Zealand the team discussed the role of the Ombudsman, future opportunities for engagement and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Our General Manager for Outreach and Engagement, Alex Schröder also got to share his insights from the visit to the Thailand Ombudsman office in Bangkok earlier this year.

A special thank you to His Excellency Mr Mongkol Visitstump and his team, as well as the Auckland Thai community for their time meeting with the Ombudsman staff visiting New Zealand.

Image 1: General Manager for Outreach and Engagement, Alex Schröder with His Excellency Mr Mongkol Visitstump, Thai Ambassador to New Zealand.
Image 2: Thai short-term placement staff presenting a gift of thanks to Chief Ombudsman John Allen.
Image 3: Thai short-term placements group outside the Thai Embassy in Wellington New Zealand.
Image 4: All the short-term placements cohort with Chief Ombudsman John Allen.
Image 5: Graduation ceremony for the group in the Ombudsman New Zealand Auckland office.

Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington สำนักงานผู้ตรวจการแผ่นดิน

10/08/2026

It's a wrap! Our short-term placements programme has come to an end with ten Ombudsman staff from Thailand, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga completing two weeks of learning, training, and community engagement in New Zealand. Thank you to the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme (MNZSP) and the Vocational Short Term Training Scholarships (VSTTS) for sponsoring the Pacific Ombudsman staff this year. Take a look at some highlights from their time here:

Image 1: visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Image 2: shared team lunch at the Wellington office
Image 3: time with the Chief Ombudsman, John Allen
Image 4: meeting with The Audit Office New Zealand
Image 5: tour at NZ Parliament buildings
Image 6: Samoa Radio station appearance
Image 7: meeting with Cook Islands community
Image 8: meeting with Samoan community

Te Mato Akamoeau - Office of the Ombudsman Cook Islands
Samoa Office of the Ombudsman Ofisi 'o e 'Omipatimeni - Office of the Ombudsman The Audit Office, New Zealand New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade สำนักงานผู้ตรวจการแผ่นดิน

07/08/2026

It’s , we have a message to our Cook Island community in Aotearoa:

If you feel a government agency hasn’t treated you fairly, the Ombudsman may be able to help. Our service is free, independent and confidential. Learn more at our website: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

Cook Islands Māori Translation

• Me manako koe e kare i tika te tu’anga a te kavamani minitiri i rave kia koe, ka rauka i Te Mato Akamoeau i te tauturu ia koe.

• Ka rauka i Te Mato Akamoeau i te oronga atu i tetai akamaramarama’anga me kare koe e marama i te akataka i toou manamanata.

• Kare koe e tutaki i te au tauturu katoatoa a Te Mato Akamoeau aere ki runga te www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

Te Mato Akamoeau - Office of the Ombudsman Cook Islands

06/08/2026

On 7 November 2026, New Zealanders will go to the polls to vote in the general election.

During this pre-election phase, access to accurate and reliable information is important. People requesting information should receive a response as quickly as possible, and Ministers and agencies should be confident in meeting their obligations under the Official Information Act.

We’ve developed guidance and resources to help agencies, and the public understand how the OIA applies during this time, and how the Ombudsman supports transparency and promotes confidence in New Zealand’s democratic process.

Find out more about our pre-election resources here:

On November 7 2026, New Zealanders will go to the polls to vote in the General Election. In the pre-election phase, people requesting official information should get it as quickly as possible, and that information needs to be reliable and accurate.

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

03/08/2026

Chief Ombudsman, John Allen spoke to students from high schools across the greater Wellington region and Palmerston North who are part of the 2026 Strengthening Democracy Project.

The project, led by Wellington lawyer Peter Cullen, aims to encourage young people to understand and participate in democratic processes and to promote, civics education, and participation.
The Office has been involved in this programme for the past three years, engaging with young people eager to learn about the Ombudsman’s role and how our work supports and strengthens democracy in New Zealand.
https://www.cullen.nz/2026