31 August 2023
Attention: Amanda Murtagh
By email:
[FYI request #23725 email]
Dear Amanda
Official information request of 6 August 2023
Our Ref: OIA353/1
1.
We refer to your official information request dated 6 August 2023. It reads:
1.
Who is responsible for holding the Independent Police Complaints
Authority to account when they fail to act within the Independent
Police Conduct Authority Act 1988?
2.
Where is this transparently explained to New Zealanders?
2.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (
IPCA) investigates complaints about
the New Zealand Police. The IPCA is statutorily independent from Government
and the Police, and has responsibilities under the Independent Police Conduct
Authority Act 1988, the Crown Entities Act 2004 and the Crimes of Torture Act
1989. The IPCA is accountable only to Parliament. Information about the
accountability
of
the
IPCA
can
be
found
on
its
website:
https://www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/about-us/Legislation-and-Accountability.aspx.
3.
It is open to you to write to your local Member of Parliament to express any
concerns you may have about the work of the IPCA. The following avenues for
raising concerns about the work of the IPCA are also available:
3.1
You can voice your concerns with the IPCA directly, using the Expression
of
Dissatisfaction
form
on
their
website
(https://www.ipca.govt.nz/tools/email.aspx?SECT=dissatisfaction).
3.2
If you have a complaint about access to personal information held by
the
IPCA,
you
can
contact
the
Privacy
Commissioner
(https://www.privacy.org.nz/about-us/contact-us/).
3.3
If you have a complaint about access to official information held by the
IPCA,
you
can
contact
the
Ombudsman
(https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/contact-ombudsman).
Level 3 Justice
Centre, 19 Aitken Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 2858 or DX SP20208, Wellington 6140, New Zealand | +64 4 472 1719 | crownlaw.govt.nz
7468378_2.DOC
2
4.
If you require legal advice about a specific IPCA decision affecting your rights,
Crown Law cannot assist because we provide legal advice and representation
services to the government. If you need legal assistance, you can visit the
New Zealand Law Society’s website
(www.lawsociety.org.nz) where there is
information on searching for a lawyer. Or you can call the Law Society on (04)
472 7837.
5.
Alternatively, you can visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Community Law
Centre, which may be able to provide assistance with finding a lawyer or making
a complaint. You can find the location of your local Citizens Advice Bureau by
visitin
g www.cab.org.nz or calling 0800 367 222, and the location of your local
Community Law Centre by visiting
http://communitylaw.org.nz.
6.
We provide these links for your assistance. However, as this information is
publicly available, your request under the Official Information Act 1982 is refused
under s 18(d).
7.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
Official Information Act decision. Information about how to make a complaint is
available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours faithfully
Crown Law
Anna Bloomfield
Crown Counsel
7468378_2.DOC