Welcome
Ombudsmen are independent Officers of Parliament who:
- Investigate complaints about the administrative conduct of central and local government agencies.
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Investigate complaints about the decisions of Ministers of the Crown and central and local government agencies on requests for official information.
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Provide information and guidance to employees who wish to report serious wrong-doing in their workplace (“whistle-blowing”) and are one of the authorities to whom serious wrong-doing can be reported.
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Examine and monitor the treatment of persons detained in
* prisons;
* premises approved and agreed under the Immigration Act 1987;
* health and disability places of detention; and
* youth justice residences established under section 364 of the Children,
Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989. -
Protect and monitor implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
"Central government agencies" include agencies (such as government departments and statutory bodies) responsible for benefit payments, housing, health, immigration, passports, accident compensation, prisons, education, taxation and child support and many others.
"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.