The Chief Ombudsman is undertaking self-initiated investigations into the official information practices of a number of councils and council controlled organisations including:

  • Marlborough District Council
  • Wellington City Council
  • Queenstown Lakes District Council
  • Wellington Water
  • Auckland Transport

As part of this investigation they have asked people who have requested information from those organisations to complete surveys

“Have you requested information from Auckland Transport, Wellington Water, Wellington City Council, Marlborough District Council or Queenstown Lakes District Council? Have you attended a public meeting, workshop or informal meeting organised by them? Do you have views on their commitment to openness and transparency?

If so, we want to hear from you.

Our public stakeholder surveys look at the experience people had with any of these agencies. It is not designed to reopen individual cases. For any new complaint, the usual process of approaching the Ombudsman is the same.”

Chief Ombudsman’s first investigation into official information handling by council-controlled infrastructure providers, 12 September 2024

The public surveys close Friday 29 November 2024, links below…

 

 

Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) are also included in this investigation which sets a precedent.

“Auckland Transport is responsible for cycling, roading, public transport and parking in New Zealand’s biggest city while Wellington Water delivers water services across the Wellington region,” he says.

“These entities, known as Council Controlled Organisations or CCOs, have the same freedom of information obligations as any other local body.

“CCOs have a huge impact on people’s daily lives. It is really important for residents to have open and transparent access to information about the decisions that affect them.”

Chief Ombudsman’s first investigation into official information handling by council-controlled infrastructure providers, 12 September 2024