Investigation-related communications with the Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner are exempted from the definition of "official information". See sections b(iii) and (c) of the definition here:

https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...

Thank you Alex for your annotation. I see that you cited section 2 of the Local Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, which states:
official information—
(a) means any information held by a local authority; but
(b) does not include—
(i) information contained in library or museum material made or acquired and preserved solely for reference or exhibition purposes; or
(ii) information which is held by a local authority solely as an agent or for the sole purpose of safe custody and which is so held on behalf of a person other than a local authority; or
(iii) information contained in any correspondence or communication that has taken place between the office of the Ombudsmen and any local authority and that relates to an investigation conducted by an Ombudsman under this Act or under the Ombudsmen Act 1975, other than information that came into existence before the commencement of that investigation; and
(c) does not include information contained in any correspondence or communication that has taken place between the office of the Privacy Commissioner and any local authority and that relates to any investigation conducted by the Privacy Commissioner under the Privacy Act 2020, other than information that came into existence before the commencement of that investigation.

To note, the privacy commissioner had not undertaken an investigation, but was recommended by the Ombudsman to assist the council to ensure their policies were consistent the the legislation. Thus, the exceptions under clause (c) does not apply in this case to the request for documents from the PC.

As to the requested policies, the section 30(4) of the OIA sates:
Except as provided in subsection (1), nothing in section 22 [Right of access to internal rules affecting decisions] of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 shall apply in respect of a decision that may be investigated and reviewed under section 28(1) or section 28(2) of this Act.

Thus, there is no restriction for requests for policies. Section 22(1) also applies to the recommendations made by the Ombudsman and the PC after an investigation. Section 22(1) states: On a request made under this section, a person has a right to, and must be given access to, any document (including a manual) that—
(a) is held by a public service agency, a Minister of the Crown, or an organisation; and
(b) contains policies, principles, rules, or guidelines in accordance with which decisions or recommendations are made in respect of any person or body of persons in their personal capacity.

I also note that you may find the Ombudsman report online: https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/site....