New Zealand Acts

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND MEETINGS ACT 1987

- As at 22 October 2025
- Act 174 of 1987

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   1.      Short Title and commencement
   2.      Interpretation
   2A.     Temporary definition of publicly notified as result of outbreak of COVID-19
   3.      Act to bind the Crown
   4.      Purposes

   PART 1 - Access to local authority information

   5.      Principle of availability
   6.      Conclusive reasons for withholding official information
   7.      Other reasons for withholding official information
   8.      Information concerning existence of certain information
   9.      Exclusion of public interest immunity

   PART 2 - Requests for access to information held by local authorities

   10.     Requests
   11.     Assistance
   12.     Transfer of requests
   13.     Decisions on requests
   14.     Extension of time limits
   15.     Documents
   16.     Deletion of information from documents
   17.     Refusal of requests
   17A.    Requests involving substantial collation or research
   17B.    Duty to consider consulting person if request likely to be refused under section 17(e) or (f)
   18.     Reason for refusal to be given

   PART 3 - Publication of, and access to, certain documents and information

   19.     Publication setting out functions of local authorities
   20.     Right of access to publication published under section 19
   21.     Right of access to internal rules affecting decisions
   22.     Right of access by person to reasons for decisions affecting that person

   PART 4 - Right of access to personal information

   23.     Right of access to personal information
   24.     Precautions
   25.     Correction of information
   26.     Reasons for refusal of requests for personal information

   PART 5 - Review of decisions

   27.     Functions of Ombudsmen
   28.     Application of Ombudsmen Act 1975
   29.     Requirements of Ombudsman to be complied with within certain period
   29A.    Consultation with Privacy Commissioner
   30.     Procedure after investigation
   31.     Disclosure of certain information not to be recommended
   32.     Recommendations made to local authorities
   33.     Requirements in relation to decision
   34.     Right of review
   35.     Appeals
   36.     Complainant to be informed of result of investigation
   37.     Restriction on application for review
   38.     Application of Ombudsmen Act 1975
   39.     Ombudsman may require publication of summary of report
   40.     Saving in respect of Ombudsmen Act 1975

   PART 6 - Miscellaneous provisions relating to access to official information

   41.     Protection against certain actions
   42.     Delegation of powers by local authority
   43.     Delegation of powers by officers
   44.     Savings

   PART 6A - Land information memoranda
   Note
   Note

   44A.    Land information memorandum
   44B.    Natural hazard information to be included in land information memoranda
   44C.    Regional council must provide territorial authority with natural hazard information
   44D.    Territorial authority, regional council, and water organisation protected against certain actions when providing information in good faith

   PART 7 - Local authority meetings

   45.     Interpretation
   45A.    Application of this Part to certain local authorities
   46.     Meetings of local authorities to be publicly notified
   46A.    Availability of agendas and reports
   46B.    Modifications to section 46A while epidemic notice in force for COVID-19
   47.     Admission of public to meetings of local authorities
   47A.    Modifications to section 47 while epidemic notice in force for COVID-19
   48.     Right of local authorities to exclude public
   49.     Provisions applying when meeting open to public
   50.     Maintenance of order
   51.     Right of public to inspect or receive copies of minutes of meeting
   51AA.   Modifications to section 51 while epidemic notice in force for COVID-19
   51A.    Public notification of resolution at extraordinary meeting
   52.     Defamatory matter in copy of agenda or additional particulars supplied to public or in minutes of meeting
   53.     Oral statements at local authority meetings privileged
   54.     This Part to prevail over other enactments

   PART 8 - Miscellaneous provisions

   55.     Regulations
   56.     Power to amend Schedules 1 and 2 by Order in Council
   57.     Consequential amendments to other enactments
   58.     Repeals and revocations
   59.     Transitional provisions for amendments made on or after commencement of Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Act 2013
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           SCHEDULE 2A
           SCHEDULE 3
           SCHEDULE 4
           SCHEDULE 5
           SCHEDULE 6