Office of the Ombudsman: Who Qualifies and What You Get

The Office of the Ombudsman provides an independent way to review decisions made by government agencies. This service acts as a check on government power to ensure that agencies are behaving fairly and following the correct procedures when dealing with the public.

👤Who it's for

This service is available to anyone who is unhappy with a decision made by a government agency. If you feel that an agency has acted unfairly, failed to follow its own rules, or has not handled your matter correctly, you may be eligible to seek help through this office.

🎁What you get

When you contact the office, you receive an independent investigation. This means a person who is not part of the government agency in question will look into your case. The goal of this investigation is to determine whether the agency acted appropriately and to provide a formal review of the situation to ensure fairness and accountability in public administration.

💰What it costs you

There is no cost to use this service. It is entirely free to request an investigation, ensuring that all citizens can access oversight of government decisions regardless of their financial situation.

⚠️The catch to know

The most important thing to remember is that you cannot go straight to the Ombudsman to file a complaint. You must first exhaust the agency's own internal complaint process. This means you must follow the official steps provided by the government agency involved to try and resolve the issue yourself before the Ombudsman will consider taking on your case.

📝How to apply

1. Identify the specific government agency that made the decision you are unhappy with.
2. Follow the agency's formal internal complaint procedure to try and reach a resolution.
3. If the internal process does not resolve your issue, gather all relevant correspondence and documentation regarding the decision.
4. Submit your request for an investigation through the official portal: https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz