What is the purpose of the Official Information Act 1982?
The Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) helps New Zealand Citizens, permanent residents and anyone in New Zealand access information held by Government organisations and Ministers. This promotes openness and transparency and enables greater public participation in government..
Who is subject to the Official Information Act?
The Official Information Act (OIA) applies to ministers and central government agencies. The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) applies to local government agencies. These laws allow people to ask for official information that ministers and central and local government agencies hold.
What is an Official Information Act request?
The Official Information Act (OIA) sets out your rights to request official information. ‘Official Information’ means any information held by the agency including: Reports, memos, letters, notes, advice and emails.
How do I make an Lgoima request?
corporate entities can seek their personal information under Part 4 of the OIA or LGOIMA. Making a request is easy. Simply contact the relevant agency and ask for the information you are seeking.
Who can make an Official Information Act request?
The Official Information Act 1982 (or OIA) enables citizens, permanent residents, visitors to New Zealand, and body corporates registered or with a place of business in New Zealand, to make a request for official information held by government agencies, including DPMC.
What can you ask for under the Freedom of Information Act?
You can ask for any information you think a public authority may hold. The right only covers recorded information which includes information held on computers, in emails and in printed or handwritten documents as well as images, video and audio recordings.
What can be requested under Freedom of Information Act?
Freedom of information (FOI) gives you the right to ask any public sector organisation for information they hold. Anyone can ask for information. You can also ask for information about yourself under data protection legislation.
Who can make a Lgoima request?
A LGOIMA request can be made by ‘any person’.
How do I apply for documents under the Freedom of Information Act?
Fill out the FOI request form which is can be acquired from the Public Authority of from the FOIU website. Seek assistance from designated officers from the Public Authority or from officers from the FOIU. Submit completed form either via mail or in person to the relevant public authority.
Can you refuse a Freedom of Information request?
You can refuse an entire request under the following circumstances: It would cost too much or take too much staff time to deal with the request. The request is vexatious. The request repeats a previous request from the same person.
What happens if a FOIA request is ignored?
If your request is denied, and your internal appeal does not reverse this decision, you may sue the agency in the United State District Court in your state of residence, in the state where the records are located, or in the District of Columbia.
What are the 9 exemptions to a FOIA request?
FOIA Exemptions
- Exemption 1. Classified Documents Pertaining to National Defense and Foreign Policy.
- Exemption 2. Internal Personnel Rules and Practices.
- Exemption 3. Information Exempt Under Other Laws.
- Exemption 4.
- Exemption 5.
- Exemption 6.
- Exemption 7.
- Exemption 8.
Who can make an Official information Act request?
What is a Lgoima request?
The form of a LGOIMA request. An agency’s duty to assist. Processing requirements, including timeframes, transfers, extensions, urgency and consultation. Making a decision, including reasons for refusal, conditions and charging.
What are the exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act?
Some exemptions require you to judge whether disclosure may cause a specific type of harm, for instance, endangering health and safety, prejudicing law enforcement, or prejudicing someone’s commercial interests. These are called prejudice-based exemptions.
What should not be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act?
Recorded information includes printed documents, computer files, letters, emails, photographs, and sound or video recordings. The Act does not give people access to their own personal data (information about themselves) such as their health records or credit reference file.
What is exempt from Freedom of Information Act?
What are the three exclusions to the FOIA?
FOIA Exemptions and Exclusions
- Exemption One: Classified national defense and foreign relations information.
- Exemption Two: Internal agency personnel rules and practices.
- Exemption Three: Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law.
When can a freedom of information request be refused?
You can refuse requests if they are repeated, whether or not they are also vexatious. You can normally refuse to comply with a request if it is identical or substantially similar to one you previously complied with from the same requester.
Which type of information is exempt?
Exemption 1: Information that is classified to protect national security. Exemption 2: Information related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency. Exemption 3: Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law.
What information is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act?
The section 23 exemption applies to any information you have received from, or relates to, any of a list of named security bodies such as the security service. You do not have to confirm or deny whether you hold the information, if doing so would reveal anything about that body or anything you have received from it.
Which of the following are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act?
Information/data that is NOT covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) includes: Non-agency records and personal records. Public requests for access to physical artifacts or scientific samples (e.g. core samples, sediment, rocks, fossils, specimen samples, blood samples).
What information Cannot be given in a FOI request?
Which information is exempted from disclosure?
Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other Officers; Any information which is personal and has no connection and relation to any public activity or interest or which would cause unwarranted invasion into the privacy of the individual.
What are the limitations of the Freedom of Information Act?
Limitations of the FOIA
First, the FOIA gives the public the right to ask for federal agency records; it doesn’t guarantee the public the absolute right to have them. People are entitled to make a request and receive a response, but there’s nothing in the law that says the agency owes them those records.