Official Information Act 1982

Requests for access to official information

17: Deletion of information from documents

You could also call this:

"Getting some information, but not all: when parts of a document are deleted for your safety"

When you ask for official information, it might be in a document that has other information that can't be shared. If that happens, the department or Minister can give you a copy of the document with some parts deleted or altered. They do this so they can still give you some of the information you asked for.

If you get a copy of a document with some parts deleted, the department or Minister must tell you why they didn't give you all the information. They must also give you the reasons for withholding the information if you ask for them, unless this would harm the interests protected by section 6, section 7, or section 9, and there is no public interest in favour of giving you the reasons. You can ask for these reasons, and they will be given to you, as long as it is allowed under section 10.

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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=DLM65398.


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Part 2Requests for access to official information

17Deletion of information from documents

  1. Where the information requested is comprised in a document and there is good reason for withholding some of the information contained in that document, the other information in that document may be made available by making a copy of that document available with such deletions or alterations as are necessary.

  2. Where a copy of a document is made available under subsection (1), the department or interdepartmental venture or Minister of the Crown or organisation shall, subject to section 10, give to the applicant—

  3. the reason for withholding the information; and
    1. if the applicant so requests, the grounds in support of that reason, unless the giving of those grounds would itself prejudice the interests protected by section 6 or section 7 or section 9 and (in the case of the interests protected by section 9) there is no countervailing public interest.
      Notes
      • Section 17(2): amended, on , by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
      • Section 17(2)(b): amended, on , by section 4(2) of the Official Information Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 8).