Ombudsmen Act 1975

Ombudsmen

8: Temporary appointments of Ombudsmen

You could also call this:

"Appointing a temporary Ombudsman to fill in when another one is away or ill"

The Governor-General can appoint a temporary Ombudsman if another Ombudsman is ill or away. You will get paid a salary for being a temporary Ombudsman, but it cannot be more than what other Ombudsmen get, as stated in section 9. The Governor-General decides how much you get paid.

The Governor-General can only appoint a temporary Ombudsman if the Chief Ombudsman says it is necessary for the work to get done. The Chief Ombudsman must sign a certificate to say this.

If you are appointed as a temporary Ombudsman because another Ombudsman is ill or away, you will work until the Governor-General says you can stop. If you are appointed for another temporary reason, you will work for up to two years, depending on what your appointment papers say.

You can be reappointed as a temporary Ombudsman, but you cannot work in this role for more than five years in total. Some rules from section 7 also apply to temporary Ombudsmen, with a few changes. These rules are like the ones for Ombudsmen who are appointed to fill a vacant position, as described in sections 5 to 7.

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This page was last updated on 18 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM431111.

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7: Filling of vacancy, or

"What happens when an Ombudsman's job becomes empty and needs to be filled again"

9: Salaries and allowances of Ombudsmen, or

"How much Ombudsmen get paid and what extras they receive to help them do their job"

8Temporary appointments of Ombudsmen

The Governor-General may, at any time during the illness or absence of any Ombudsman, or for any other temporary purpose whatsoever, appoint an Ombudsman to hold office in accordance with this section, and every such Ombudsman shall be paid such salary, not exceeding the amount payable in accordance with section 9 to an Ombudsman other than the Chief Ombudsman, as the Governor-General thinks fit.
The power conferred by this section shall be exercised only on a certificate signed by the Chief Ombudsman to the effect that, in his opinion, it is necessary for the due conduct of the business of the Ombudsmen under this Act that an additional Ombudsman should be temporarily appointed.
Subject to sections 5 to 7, every Ombudsman appointed under this section on account of the illness or absence of an Ombudsman shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General, and every other Ombudsman appointed for a temporary purpose shall hold office for such period, not exceeding 2 years, as may be specified in his warrant of appointment.
An Ombudsman appointed under this section may from time to time be reappointed, but no Ombudsman shall hold office under this section for more than 5 years in the aggregate.
The provisions of section 7 shall apply, with any necessary modifications, to the temporary appointment of an Ombudsman under this section as if the Ombudsman were being appointed under that section to fill a vacancy.