7321 NZ Ombudsman complaints in 2021-2022

Tāmaki Makaurau - The Ombudsman’s office received a record 7321 official information complaints in 2021-2022, 31 percent on the year before, the highest volume ever received by the Ombudsman.

There were also increasing demands for public engagement and agency advice. The past year has been an extremely busy one, according to the Ombudsman’s latest annual report.

The covid pandemic continued to create new challenges and Aotearoa is grappling with a continually shifting environment, socially and economically which are factor’s in the Ombudsman’s increasing workload.

The Ombudsman completed 38 percent more official information complaints than the year before and obtained 1135 remedies.

The office resolved 40 percent of official information complaints that would otherwise have been subject to a formal investigation and investigated a third of the 2591 official information complaints received, with 350 requiring final opinions to be issued.

The office formally investigated 584 Ombudsmen Act complaints, 25 percent more than the year before, with 452 requiring final opinions.

It completed 17 percent more Ombudsmen Act complaints than the year before and obtained 482 remedies.

Despite these increases, the high standards for timeliness and quality my office is known for continued to be met.

This year has been a significant one for the Ombudsman, marking 60 years since the role was established in Aotearoa, being the first Ombudsman outside of Scandinavia.

Six decades and counting of providing services to New Zealanders that ensures their rights and holds central and local government to account.