OIA 25715
Harwood Wilson
[FYI request #31709 email]
Dear Harwood
Thank you for your Of icial Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 22 July 2025 in which you
sought information relating to the New Zealand Police’s compliance with legal obligations
under the OIA and Privacy Act.
Please find below a response to each part of your request.
1. Is the Minister of Police aware of any incidents where the NZ Police have failed to
meet the legal obligations of the Official Information Act and Privacy Act when
members of the public have requested information during his term in government,
from that agency?
2. If so, please advise on how many occasions he has been advised of separate
issues and when (by month & year)
While I am not briefed on every individual case, my office does receive regular notifications
from the Of ice of the Ombudsman regarding the outcomes of complaints made about Police
OIA responses. Since 27 November 2023, my office has received 73 notifications. These
notifications include findings that Police has failed to meet the timeliness obligations
imposed by the OIA, but they do not necessarily indicate a breach of legal obligations in
every case.
3. Has there been any correspondence relating to police staffing levels and their
obligation to meet legal back office requirements? (either within government or
between government and another agency) if so please include copies of any
correspondence from the current calendar year.
Police is a large organisation with a wide range of functions, many of which entail legal
obligations that may involve corporate support staff. I have therefore interpreted parts 3 and
4 of your request to relate to legal obligations imposed in relation to requests for information
under the OIA or Privacy Act 2020.
There have been general discussions regarding Police resourcing, including staffing levels
across both frontline and administrative functions. However, I have not received or sent any
correspondence this calendar year that specifically links staffing levels to legal obligations
under the above Acts.
4. Are any plans underway to better fund NZ Police for back office staff where
required for legal obligations? if so, please provide details and timelines.
Decisions regarding staffing levels and internal resource allocation, including corporate
support, fall under the operational responsibility of the Commissioner of Police. Broader
funding decisions are considered through the Government’s Budget process, and any future
allocations wil be publicly announced through that channel.
5. Does the minister have plans to address the NZ Police lengthy delays in OIA and
Privacy act requests? if so please provide details.
I am aware of concerns regarding delays in responding to OIA and Privacy Act requests. I
support the efforts Police are making to improve their processes and ensure timely
compliance with statutory obligations. These efforts include internal reviews and system
improvements.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision if you are not satisfied with
my response to your request.
Yours sincerely
Hon Mark Mitchell
Minister of Police
