Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

Right of access to personal information

25: Correction of information

You could also call this:

"Fixing mistakes in your personal information held by local councils"

Illustration for Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

If you get to see personal information about yourself from a local authority under section 23(1), you can ask them to correct it. You can do this by writing a letter to the local authority if you think the information is wrong or incomplete and gives a wrong impression. You can also ask them to add a note to the information saying what you think is wrong with it, even if they do not make the changes you asked for.

When a local authority gets your letter, they have to tell you what they are going to do about it. They will let you know what action they take after you ask them to correct the information or add a note to it.

You have the right to ask for corrections to be made to your personal information, and the local authority must respond to your request and let you know what they decide to do.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM123027.

Topics:
Government and voting > Local councilsRights and equality > Privacy
Previous

24: Precautions, or

"Keeping your personal information safe when you ask for it"

Next

26: Reasons for refusal of requests for personal information, or

"When a local council can say no to your request for personal information"

Part 4Right of access to personal information

25Correction of information

  1. Every person who is given access under section 23(1) to personal information may, by letter addressed to the local authority,—

  2. request correction of the personal information where the person believes that the information—
    1. is inaccurate; or
      1. is incomplete and gives a misleading impression; and
      2. require that a notation be attached to the information indicating the nature of any correction requested but not made.

        1. Where a local authority receives a letter pursuant to subsection (1), it shall inform the person by whom or by which the letter was sent of the action taken by the local authority as a result of the letter.

        Compare