New Zealand Acts

OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982

- As at 5 April 2025
- Act 156 of 1982

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   1.      Short Title and commencement
   2.      Interpretation
   3.      Act to bind the Crown

   PART 1 - Purposes and criteria

   4.      Purposes
   5.      Principle of availability
   6.      Conclusive reasons for withholding official information
   7.      Special reasons for withholding official information related to the Cook Islands, Tokelau, or Niue, or the Ross Dependency
   8.      Special reasons for withholding official information related to competitive commercial activities
   9.      Other reasons for withholding official information
   10.     Information concerning existence of certain information
   11.     Exclusion of public interest immunity

   PART 2 - Requests for access to official information

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

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

   20.     Publication setting out functions of public service agencies and organisations
   21.     Right of access to certain official information
   22.     Right of access to internal rules affecting decisions
   23.     Right of access by person to reasons for decisions affecting that person

   PART 4 - Right of access to personal information

   24.     Right of access to personal information
   24A.    Restriction where person sentenced to imprisonment
   25.     Precautions
   26.     Correction of information
   27.     Reasons for refusal of requests for personal information

   PART 5 - Review of decisions

   28.     Functions of Ombudsmen
   29.     Application of Ombudsmen Act 1975
   29A.    Requirements of Ombudsman to be complied with within certain period
   29B.    Consultation with Privacy Commissioner
   30.     Procedure after investigation
   31.     Disclosure of certain information not to be recommended
   32.     Recommendations made to public service agency or Minister of the Crown or organisation
   32A.    Requirements in relation to Order in Council
   32B.    Right of review
   32C.    Appeals
   33.     Complainant to be informed of result of investigation
   34.     Restriction on application for review
   35.     Application of Ombudsmen Act 1975
   36.     Saving in respect of Ombudsmen Act 1975

   PART 6 - Information Authority
   Note

   37.     Establishment of Information Authority
   38.     Functions and powers of Authority
   39.     Functions in respect of personal information
   40.     Membership of Authority
   41.     Term of office of members of Authority
   42.     Regulations providing for access to information
   43.     Provision for disallowance of regulations providing for access to information
   44.     Annual report
   45.     Offences

   PART 7 - Miscellaneous provisions

   46.     Assistance of Ministry of Justice
   47.     Regulations
   48.     Protection against certain actions
   49.     Power to amend Schedule 1 by Order in Council
   50.     Consequential amendments to other enactments
   51.     Repeal
   52.     Savings
   53.     Expiration of provisions relating to Information Authority
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           SCHEDULE 3