- New Zealand Chief Ombudsman
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New Zealand Chief Ombudsman Nga Kaitiaki Mana Tangata Agency overview Jurisdiction New Zealand Headquarters 70 The Terrace, PO Box 10 152, Wellington Agency executives Beverley Wakem, CBE,
Chief Ombudsman
David McGee, CNZM QC,
OmbudsmanWebsite http://www.ombudsmen.parliament.nz/ New Zealand's Chief Ombudsman (Nga Kaitiaki Mana Tangata in Maori) is appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand on recommendation of the House of Representatives to oversee investigation of complaints against government departments, and report, with recommendations, to Parliament.
The post of Ombudsman was established in New Zealand in 1962. Sir Guy Powles, the last governor of Samoa, served as the first Ombudsman. In 1975, the number of ombudsmen was expanded, with Powles assuming the role of Chief Ombudsman and an unspecified number of other ombudsmen.
In 2005, Chief Ombudsman John Belgrave was rocketed to national prominence after he forced the Prime Minister Helen Clark to release treasury costings of her controversial interest-free student loan programme. Clark reluctantly did so, and it was revealed that she and Minister of Finance Michael Cullen had grossly understated the cost of it.
In 2003, John Belgrave was appointed the country's Chief Ombudsman; however, he later died in office on December 3, 2007 due to cancer. [1]
Beverley Wakem is currently the Chief Ombudsman and David McGee is Ombudsman. On April 14, 2008 the Officers of Parliament Committee recommended that Wakem's appointment be made permanent[2] (as she was the "acting" Ombudsman up until that point).
List of Chief Ombudsmen
- Sir Guy Powles, ONZ KBE ED (Official title was simply "Ombudsman" until 1975) - 1962-1977
- Sir George Laking, KCMG - 1977-1984
- Lester Castle - 1984-1986
- Sir John Robertson - 1986-1994
- Sir Brian Elwood - 1994-2003
- John Belgrave, DCNZM - 2003-2007
- Beverley Wakem, CBE - 2008-Present
References
- ^ "John Belgrave dies after 40 years of service". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. December 4, 2007. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10480215. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
- ^ Appointment of Chief Ombudsman: Report of the Officers of Parliament Committee
External links
New Zealand Parliamentary Offices Part of the State sector organisations in New Zealand Office of the Controller and Auditor-General · Office of the Ombudsmen · Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
Categories:- New Zealand law
- Ombudsman posts
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