Tēnā koe,

 

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the Act and your response may be later than you expect.

Ngā mihi,

Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice

Justice Centre I Aitken Street

DX Box SX 10088 I Wellington

[2]www.justice.govt.nz

 

 

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Tçnâ koe S. S.

Thank you for emailing the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry).
 
We acknowledge receipt of your request under the Official Information Act 1982. 

This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to. 
 
The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place at least 10 working days after it has been sent you. Your name and any other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a) (protect the privacy of natural persons). 
 
You can expect a response by 29/01/2025. This response date takes into account the OIA summer holidays which are between 25 December 2024 – 15 January 2025. 

Ngâ mihi

Communications and Ministerial Services |Corporate Services
Ministry of Justice | Tâhû o te Ture
DX Box SX 10088 | Wellington
www.justice.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: S. S. <[FOI #29503 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:03 AM
To: [Ministry of Justice request email]
Subject: Official Information request - Analysis of North Shore Family Court Operations and Resource Management (January 2020 - December 2024)

Dear Ministry of Justice,

Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA), I am requesting information related to the administrative operations, resource management, performance metrics, and legal aid administration at the North Shore Family Court from January 2020 to December 2024.

This request pertains to systemic operational data, which is expected to be part of standard public service record-keeping practices. As per Section 17(e) of LGOIMA, the substantial amount of information requested does not constitute grounds for refusal.

I am submitting this request as part of a broader effort to understand and improve the transparency, efficiency, and resource management of family court operations in New Zealand.

Legal Framework

This request aligns with the following statutes:

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 Family Court Act 1980 Family Court Rules 2002 Legal Services Act 2011 Public Records Act 2005 Official Information Act 1982

Information Requested

1. Operational Performance and Case Management:

a) Statistical Data (anonymized):
- Monthly breakdown by case type
- Processing timeframes
- Delay frequency and causes
- Error rates and types
- Correction timeframes
- Resolution metrics

For each category, please provide:
- Raw data
- Trend analysis
- Comparative benchmarks
- Variance explanations
- Impact assessments

b) Administrative Efficiency:
- Document processing times
- Error correction rates
- Staff productivity metrics
- Quality control measures
- Compliance statistics

For each category, include:
- Daily/weekly/monthly breakdowns
- Resource allocation data
- Cost implications
- Remediation efforts

2. Resource Management:

a) Staffing Analysis:
- Position-specific workloads
- Training records
- Performance metrics
- Error rates by role
- Productivity measurements

b) Financial Management:
- Transaction costs by type
- Resource utilization rates
- Overtime patterns
- Budget vs. actual spending
- Cost efficiency metrics

For both categories, provide:
- Detailed breakdowns
- Justification documentation
- Impact assessments

3. Legal Aid Administration:

a) Processing Metrics:
- Application volumes
- Processing times
- Approval/decline rates
- Appeal statistics
- Quality measures

b) Financial Oversight:
- Cost per case
- Resource allocation
- Recovery rates
- Administrative costs

Include:
- Efficiency measurements
- Impact assessments
- Performance trends

4. Quality Assurance Framework:
- Error detection methods
- Correction procedures
- Prevention measures
- Training effectiveness
- Performance monitoring

Include:
- Implementation documentation
- Success metrics
- Cost implications
- Resource requirements
- Required Format for All Sections

Data Specifications:
- Raw data in Excel format
- Monthly breakdowns
- Year-over-year comparisons
- Trend analysis and variance explanations
- Impact assessments

Supporting Documentation:
- Decision-making trails
- Internal review processes
- Quality control records
- System modification logs
- Staff training verification
- Audit records

Accountability Documentation:
- Names/positions of responsible officials
- Information management policies
- System audit records
- Regular reporting mechanisms
- Data retention protocols

Additional Notes
- Claims of commercial sensitivity are not applicable as this request relates to public service delivery.
- Privacy concerns can be mitigated through anonymization.
- Administrative burden is not grounds for refusal under LGOIMA.
- The requested period (2020-2024) aligns with standard retention requirements.

Time Sensitivity
- Any anticipated delays must be communicated within five working days.
- Partial information should be released as it becomes available.
- Progress updates are expected regularly.
- Notification of any transferred portions of this request must be provided immediately.

If any information is withheld:
- Please cite specific statutory grounds.
- Provide redacted versions where possible.
- Detail public interest considerations.
- Explain the methodology for partial information provision.

This request and its handling will be documented for potential review by:
- Office of the Ombudsman
- Ministry of Justice oversight team
- Public sector accountability mechanisms

I look forward to your response within the statutory 20 working days.

Yours faithfully,
S. S.

------------------------------

CC:

Ministry of Justice Official Information Team Office of the Chief District Court Judge Office of the Ombudsman Parliamentary Service (Information Requests)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #29503 email]

Is [Ministry of Justice request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Justice? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

 

Tēnā koe S.S,

 

Thank you for your Official Information Act (OIA) request to the Ministry
of Justice (the Ministry), received on 10 December 2024.

 

Specifically, you have asked for:

 

1. Operational Performance and Case Management:

 

a) Statistical Data (anonymized):

- Monthly breakdown by case type

- Processing timeframes

- Delay frequency and causes

- Error rates and types

- Correction timeframes

- Resolution metrics

 

For each category, please provide:

- Raw data

- Trend analysis

- Comparative benchmarks

- Variance explanations

- Impact assessments

 

b) Administrative Efficiency:

- Document processing times

- Error correction rates

- Staff productivity metrics

- Quality control measures

- Compliance statistics

 

For each category, include:

- Daily/weekly/monthly breakdowns

- Resource allocation data

- Cost implications

- Remediation efforts

 

2. Resource Management:

 

a) Staffing Analysis:

- Position-specific workloads

- Training records

- Performance metrics

- Error rates by role

- Productivity measurements

 

b) Financial Management:

- Transaction costs by type

- Resource utilization rates

- Overtime patterns

- Budget vs. actual spending

- Cost efficiency metrics

 

For both categories, provide:

- Detailed breakdowns

- Justification documentation

- Impact assessments

 

3. Legal Aid Administration:

 

a) Processing Metrics:

- Application volumes

- Processing times

- Approval/decline rates

- Appeal statistics

- Quality measures

 

b) Financial Oversight:

- Cost per case

- Resource allocation

- Recovery rates

- Administrative costs

 

Include:

- Efficiency measurements

- Impact assessments

- Performance trends

 

4. Quality Assurance Framework:

- Error detection methods

- Correction procedures

- Prevention measures

- Training effectiveness

- Performance monitoring

 

Include:

- Implementation documentation

- Success metrics

- Cost implications

- Resource requirements

- Required Format for All Sections

 

Data Specifications:

- Raw data in Excel format

- Monthly breakdowns

- Year-over-year comparisons

- Trend analysis and variance explanations

- Impact assessments

 

Supporting Documentation:

- Decision-making trails

- Internal review processes

- Quality control records

- System modification logs

- Staff training verification

- Audit records

 

Accountability Documentation:

- Names/positions of responsible officials

- Information management policies

- System audit records

- Regular reporting mechanisms

- Data retention protocols

 

Additional Notes

- Claims of commercial sensitivity are not applicable as this request
relates to public service delivery.

- Privacy concerns can be mitigated through anonymization.

- Administrative burden is not grounds for refusal under LGOIMA.

- The requested period (2020-2024) aligns with standard retention
requirements.

 

Time Sensitivity

- Any anticipated delays must be communicated within five working days.

- Partial information should be released as it becomes available.

- Progress updates are expected regularly.

- Notification of any transferred portions of this request must be
provided immediately.

 

If any information is withheld:

- Please cite specific statutory grounds.

- Provide redacted versions where possible.

- Detail public interest considerations.

- Explain the methodology for partial information provision.

 

This request and its handling will be documented for potential review by:

- Office of the Ombudsman

- Ministry of Justice oversight team

- Public sector accountability mechanisms

 

Firstly, the Ministry would like to advise you that LGOIMA does not apply
to this request. Please note, the OIA applies to information requests made
to Ministers and central government agencies and LGOIMA applies to
information requests made to local government. As in this case, you have
made the request to the Ministry, therefore the OIA applies. It is also
important to note that the OIA permits refusal under section 18(f) for
substantial collation or research.

 

Please note, section 12(2) of the OIA requires requests to be made with
due particularity. This means that the agency must be reasonably able to
identify what information is being requested. As your request is currently
worded, the following parts have not been specified with due particularity
therefore, it is not a valid request under the OIA. Therefore, under
section 15 of the OIA, we are seeking to clarify these parts of the
request.

 

1a) Statistical Data (anonymized)

o Monthly breakdown by case type Please clarify what information you are
seeking a monthly breakdown by case type of e.g. number of
applications filed. Alternatively, please advise if you are seeking a
breakdown of any of the information in the Family Court data tables
available on our website, here: [1]Data tables | New Zealand Ministry
of Justice
o Delay frequency and causes Please clarify if by delay you mean
adjournments. If so, we can provide the number of court events
adjourned in the North Shore Family Court.
o Processing timeframes Please clarify if you are seeking information on
the average time in days taken for documents to be processed after
filed. If so, please note this part of your request will be refused
under 18(g) of the OIA as this information is not held by the
Ministry.
o Error rates and types, correction timeframes, resolution metrics
Please clarify what is meant by these terms and what specific
information you are seeking.

1b) Administrative efficiency

o Document processing times As above, please clarify if you are seeking
information on the average time in days taken for documents to be
processed after filed. If so, please note this part of your request
will be refused under 18(g) of the OIA as this information is not held
by the Ministry.
o Error correction rates, staff productivity metrics, quality control
measures, compliance statistics Please clarify what is meant by these
terms and what specific information you are seeking.

2a) Staffing Analysis:  Please clarify if you are seeking information
regarding turnover rates and recruitment.

o Error rates by role – Please clarify what do you mean by error rates
and what specific information you are seeking.

- Justification documentation – Please clarify what do you mean by
justification documentation and what specific information you are seeking.

- Impact assessments - Please clarify what do you mean and what specific
information you are seeking.

 

3a) Processing Metrics:

o Appeal statistics Please clarify what you mean by appeal statistics,
and whether you mean the court case ‘appeals’, or appealing the
decision made on the legal aid grant.
o Quality measures Please clarify what you mean by quality measures and
what specific information you are seeking.

 

3b) Financial Oversight:

o Resource allocation Please clarify what is meant by resource
allocation and what specific information you are seeking.
o Recovery rates Please clarify if you are seeking the amount of legal
aid debt paid. If so, we can provide the amount of legal aid debt
collected by the Ministry.
o Administrative costs Please clarify if you mean the costs claimed by
legal aid lawyers. If so, please note this part of your request will
be refused under 18(g) of the OIA as this information is not held by
the Ministry.

 

We would appreciate if you could respond to us by Monday, January 6, 2024.

 

Please note that as the Ministry has sought to clarify your request within
the first seven working days, on receipt of the confirmed scope, the
timeline to respond to you will reset under section 15(1) of the Act.

 

You have the right under section 28 of the Act you have the right to seek
a review my decisions in handling your request from the Ombudsman.  The
Ombudsman’s contact details are available at:
[2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/contact-ombudsman

 

 

 

Ngā mihi,

  Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street, Wellington (6011)

[3][email address]

[4][email address]

[5][Ministry of Justice request email]

[6]justice.govt.nz

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: S. S. <[7][FOI #29503 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:03 AM
To: [8][Ministry of Justice request email]
Subject: Official Information request - Analysis of North Shore Family
Court Operations and Resource Management (January 2020 - December 2024)

 

Dear Ministry of Justice,

 

Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
(LGOIMA), I am requesting information related to the administrative
operations, resource management, performance metrics, and legal aid
administration at the North Shore Family Court from January 2020 to
December 2024.

 

This request pertains to systemic operational data, which is expected to
be part of standard public service record-keeping practices. As per
Section 17(e) of LGOIMA, the substantial amount of information requested
does not constitute grounds for refusal.

 

I am submitting this request as part of a broader effort to understand and
improve the transparency, efficiency, and resource management of family
court operations in New Zealand.

 

Legal Framework

 

This request aligns with the following statutes:

 

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 Family Court
Act 1980 Family Court Rules 2002 Legal Services Act 2011 Public Records
Act 2005 Official Information Act 1982

 

Information Requested

 

1. Operational Performance and Case Management:

 

a) Statistical Data (anonymized):

- Monthly breakdown by case type

- Processing timeframes

- Delay frequency and causes

- Error rates and types

- Correction timeframes

- Resolution metrics

 

For each category, please provide:

- Raw data

- Trend analysis

- Comparative benchmarks

- Variance explanations

- Impact assessments

 

b) Administrative Efficiency:

- Document processing times

- Error correction rates

- Staff productivity metrics

- Quality control measures

- Compliance statistics

 

For each category, include:

- Daily/weekly/monthly breakdowns

- Resource allocation data

- Cost implications

- Remediation efforts

 

2. Resource Management:

 

a) Staffing Analysis:

- Position-specific workloads

- Training records

- Performance metrics

- Error rates by role

- Productivity measurements

 

b) Financial Management:

- Transaction costs by type

- Resource utilization rates

- Overtime patterns

- Budget vs. actual spending

- Cost efficiency metrics

 

For both categories, provide:

- Detailed breakdowns

- Justification documentation

- Impact assessments

 

3. Legal Aid Administration:

 

a) Processing Metrics:

- Application volumes

- Processing times

- Approval/decline rates

- Appeal statistics

- Quality measures

 

b) Financial Oversight:

- Cost per case

- Resource allocation

- Recovery rates

- Administrative costs

 

Include:

- Efficiency measurements

- Impact assessments

- Performance trends

 

4. Quality Assurance Framework:

- Error detection methods

- Correction procedures

- Prevention measures

- Training effectiveness

- Performance monitoring

 

Include:

- Implementation documentation

- Success metrics

- Cost implications

- Resource requirements

- Required Format for All Sections

 

Data Specifications:

- Raw data in Excel format

- Monthly breakdowns

- Year-over-year comparisons

- Trend analysis and variance explanations

- Impact assessments

 

Supporting Documentation:

- Decision-making trails

- Internal review processes

- Quality control records

- System modification logs

- Staff training verification

- Audit records

 

Accountability Documentation:

- Names/positions of responsible officials

- Information management policies

- System audit records

- Regular reporting mechanisms

- Data retention protocols

 

Additional Notes

- Claims of commercial sensitivity are not applicable as this request
relates to public service delivery.

- Privacy concerns can be mitigated through anonymization.

- Administrative burden is not grounds for refusal under LGOIMA.

- The requested period (2020-2024) aligns with standard retention
requirements.

 

Time Sensitivity

- Any anticipated delays must be communicated within five working days.

- Partial information should be released as it becomes available.

- Progress updates are expected regularly.

- Notification of any transferred portions of this request must be
provided immediately.

 

If any information is withheld:

- Please cite specific statutory grounds.

- Provide redacted versions where possible.

- Detail public interest considerations.

- Explain the methodology for partial information provision.

 

This request and its handling will be documented for potential review by:

- Office of the Ombudsman

- Ministry of Justice oversight team

- Public sector accountability mechanisms

 

I look forward to your response within the statutory 20 working days.

 

Yours faithfully,

S. S.

 

------------------------------

 

CC:

 

Ministry of Justice Official Information Team Office of the Chief District
Court Judge Office of the Ombudsman Parliamentary Service (Information
Requests)

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[9][FOI #29503 email]

 

Is [10][Ministry of Justice request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Ministry of Justice? If so, please contact us using this form:

[11]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[12]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sect...
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/conta...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[Ministry of Justice request email]
6. http://www.justice.govt.nz/
7. mailto:[FOI #29503 email]
8. mailto:[Ministry of Justice request email]
9. mailto:[FOI #29503 email]
10. mailto:[Ministry of Justice request email]
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