OIA
Lifting the lid on lobbying, ministers - and the media
An RNZ investigation lifted the lid this week on lobbyists and how they communicate with politicians outside the public gaze or official oversight. But it also raised questions for the media about how… Audio
Chief Ombudsman 'more unhappy' than ever with aspects of OIA process
Despite the Prime Minister promising New Zealand's most transparent government ever, gripes about getting access to official information have sky rocketed.
Figures from the Ombudsman show complaints… Video, Audio
Public service screened by 'communications complex'
Dominion Post editor Anna Fifield says after 20 years reporting offshore - she’s shocked at the “communications industrial complex” she says shields our government and public service from media… Audio
All of government response OIA makes for strange reading
Stuff senior political reporter Thomas Coughlan says he has revealed what he says are some of the most interesting OIA's he's ever read. He explains what the latest ones are that he says stand out… Audio
The judge charged with keeping our civil servants accountable
Emile Donovan sits down with the man charged with keeping the country's civil servants in check. Audio
Does the OIA need to be rebuilt from the ground up?
The Official Information Act is under the microscope. The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier joins the Panel to discuss exactly what's going wrong, and whether the Act can be fixed - or whether an entirely… Audio
Can we fix the OIA?
Stuff has launched a series looking at shortcomings in the official information act. Our panellists - both of whom have worked as journalists - weigh in with their thoughts and experiences. Audio
Pike River families claim video shows intact bodies inside mine
Sonya Rockhouse says she discovered images of several bodies after obtaining hours of footage from the Police under the Official Information Act. Audio
Transport Agency blocks efforts to investigate Huntly steel
The Transport Agency cites commercial reasons for refusing to explain what went wrong with failed steel at four bridges on the Huntly Bypass. Audio
DoC backs down on OIA chopper info charge
The Department of Conservation has backed down on its decision to charge a mountaineering club $1600 for an Official Information Act (OIA) request.
Labour joins Green backing of OIA tables
Labour and the Green Party have backed plans for a table ranking government agencies on compliance with the Official Information Act.
Dozens of defence staff charged over drugs
More than 30 Defence Force personnel have been charged with using or selling drugs in just over a year.
Govt agencies on notice over OIA
The Chief Ombudsman is putting government agencies on notice for their compliance with the Official Information Act. Audio
Public Service Neutrality under Threat?
Brent Edwards examines whether the country's public servants are being politicised Audio
Ombudsman takes aim at 'fishing trip' OIA requests
ANALYSIS: 'Rottweiler' reporters and 'gun-shy' public servants, is this the reality of OIA requests, asks Jane Patterson in this week's Power Play.
Government considers appeal against TPP court judgement
The Government is considering whether to appeal against a court decision that the Trade Minister acted unlawfully in the way he rejected requests for information about the Trans-Pacific Partnership… Audio
Court decision could change OIA responses
The High Court in Wellington has found the Trade Minister acted unlawfully in the way he rejected requests for information about the trans-Pacific trade negotiations. Audio
Media Freedom Committee welcomes OIA inquiry
The country's editors say a major review into how Official Information Act requests are handled must address the government's deliberate delaying tactics. Audio
Wide-ranging review of Official Information Act
The Chief Ombudsman wants to find out if public servants are fobbing off and stonewalling requests from the public and media for official information. Audio
Mediawatch for 26 October 2014
Panic over property prices and rising rates in Auckland; political ploys with the Official Information Act - and what a review of compliance might uncover; changes at NZ's biggest radio and newspaper… Audio