Dear Office of the Ombudsman,

I seek information relating to the Chief Ombudsman’s opinion dated 19 June 2023, published on the Ombudsman’s website in September 2023, titled “Chief Ombudsman’s opinion under the Official Information Act” and available at:
https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/site...

The opinion refers to a group of 17 complainants and cites Ombudsman case numbers including 560655, 566252, 569072, concerning refusals to release COVID-19 vaccine contracts.

Scope of request:

This request is confined to administrative, procedural, and correspondence records and does not seek disclosure of personal identifying information unless already lawfully releasable.

Information requested:

Confirmation of:
* the exact number of complaints comprised within the “group of 17”; and
* whether each complaint was lodged individually or as part of any combined or coordinated request.
* How many more complaints have been received since 19 June 2023? Please supply those details further to the below request.

For each complaint within the group of 17, the following non-identifying administrative information:
* Ombudsman complaint reference number;
* date the complaint was received;
* date the complaint was closed;
* public agency or agencies complained about;
* outcome classification used by the Ombudsman.

Copies of the final determination letters or outcome notifications issued to each complainant, provided:
* with names and contact details redacted; and
* retaining reasoning, conclusions, and recommendations in full.
* Copies of any template, form, or standard wording used in correspondence with complainants in this matter.

Any document, email, or record evidencing:
* the decision to aggregate the complaints into a single published opinion; and
* the criteria applied in determining that aggregation was appropriate.

If any information is withheld, please specify for each item:
* the precise statutory ground relied upon;
* the factual basis for that reliance;
* how the public interest test under section 9(1) was assessed.

For the avoidance of doubt:
* anonymised or redacted information is expressly requested where necessary;
* refusal under section 18(f) (substantial collation or research) should be accompanied by evidence that assistance under section 18A was considered.

Given the exceptional public interest in transparency around vaccine procurement and OIA oversight, I request that withholding grounds be interpreted narrowly.

Yours faithfully,

John Armstrong