Ombudsmen Act 1975

Functions of Ombudsmen

16: Mode of complaint

You could also call this:

"How to make a complaint to an Ombudsman"

You can make a complaint to an Ombudsman in writing or by talking to them. If you make a complaint by talking, it will be written down as soon as possible. You can also write a letter to an Ombudsman if you are in custody or a patient in a hospital, and it will be sent to them without being opened, as long as you address it to the Ombudsman, according to the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. The person in charge of where you are will send your letter to the Ombudsman straight away.

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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=DLM431134.

Topics:

Government and voting > Government departmentsRights and equality > Privacy

15: House of Representatives may make rules for guidance of Ombudsmen, or

"Parliament can make rules to help the Ombudsmen do their job."

17: Ombudsman may refuse to investigate complaint, or

"The Ombudsman can say no to looking into your complaint in some situations."

16Mode of complaint

A complaint to an Ombudsman may be made in writing or orally.
A complaint made orally shall be put in writing as soon as practicable.
Notwithstanding any provision in any enactment, where any letter appearing to be written by any person in custody on a charge or after conviction of any offence, or by any patient of any hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, is addressed to an Ombudsman it shall be immediately forwarded, unopened, to the Ombudsman by the person for the time being in charge of the place or institution where the writer of the letter is detained or of which he is a patient.

Compare

1962 No 10 s 13

Notes

Section 16(1): replaced, on 9 December 1991, by section 2 of the Ombudsmen Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 121).
Section 16(1A): inserted, on 9 December 1991, by section 2 of the Ombudsmen Amendment Act 1991 (1991 No 121).
Section 16(2): amended, on 1 November 1992, pursuant to section 137(1) of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 (1992 No 46).