The Chief Ombudsman is concerned about the growing trend of agencies to exclude some material from requests under the Official Information Act.
The office has received more than 1200 Official Information Act complaints this year as government agencies delay their answers to information requests.
That is the highest number of complaints in 11 years.
Chief Ombudsman Dame Beverley Wakem says that's unfair on the New Zealand public.
Dame Beverley also believes job cuts at government agencies may be contributing to the exclusion of some material being released under the OIA.
She says a lack of experience of dealing with OIA requests may be adding to the problem.
