Ombudsman NZ

Our community engagement team recently completed a series of engagements across New Zealand. Our General Manager for Outreach and Engagement Alex Schröder met with more than 60 staff from community based social service organisations in Christchurch.

Alex shared information about how the office that can support staff assisting whānau and communities in their interactions with government agencies. We also connected online with parliamentary support staff in electorate offices from around the country, we joined one of their “latte and learn” sessions which was a great opportunity to remind them about our work as an Officer of Parliament, and to share examples of situations where electorate staff may refer constituents directly to the Ombudsman.

Thank you to the Parliament Support Staff Advisory Team, Social Services Network Waimakariri, Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi, Presbyterian Support Upper South Island for working with us and we look forward to continuing our connection and kōrero.

New Zealand Parliament Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island

If you would like to learn more about us head to our website ⬇: https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

Mālō e lelei and Happy Tongan Language Week! 🇹🇴

To celebrate, we joined the Tongan Leaders Council and the Tongan community in Wellington at the launch of . Malo 'aupito for having us to share more information about our role and how we can assist your communities with their concerns.

Have a read below and visit our website for additional information on how the Ombudsman can support you:

Tongan Translation:

•Kapau ‘oku ke ongo‘i, tui pe fakakaukau ‘oku uesia ha‘o totonu koe‘uhi ko ha fakahoko fatongia ‘a ha va‘a ngāue fakapule‘anga, ‘e lava ‘a e ‘Omipatimeni ke tokoni atu.

•Ko ‘emau fakahoko fatongia ‘oku ta’etotongi, tu’u tauataina pea mo maluí ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala

•Teke ma’u ki he fakaikiiki mei he ‘emau peesi www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

Wellington Tongan Leaders Council

Come see our Disability Rights Team on Tuesday August 25th, at the Next Steps Expo in Christchurch and learn more about who we are, what disability rights are, and how you can make a complaint about a government agency. At Next Steps there will be over 100 accessible services and organisations from across New Zealand. Next Steps is the South Island’s leading disability community expo and a friendly space to discover choices for work, study, support, living options and more. You can also take part in activities and watch local performances throughout the day.

Learn more about the expo here: https://www.aspirecanterbury.org.nz/events/next-steps-2026

Come and join our Disability Rights Team at 6pm on Wednesday August 26th at the Deaf Society of Canterbury, 80 Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch. Learn about how the office can support you. This event is for members of the Deaf community only, so if that is you and you’re based in Christchurch come and join us.

Please scan the QR code on the tile to view the information in NZSL.

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

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

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

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

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

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