About the Official Information Act
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 the Health Research Council.
We can only answer requests about information we hold. If you are unsure which government agency holds the information you’re looking for, check the Ministry of Justice’s Directory of Official Information.
The Office of the Ombudsman has guidelines available for making an Official Information Act request.
Before you make an OIA request
Before you make an OIA request, check if the information you are looking for is already publicly available. We regularly release information of public interest.
Sources of information on the HRC website include:
- News and media releases
- The HRC Research Repository contains details of HRC-funded studies over the past 10 years
- The HRC Resource Library contains statutory accountability and reporting documents, including our:
Sources of information held by other organisations include:
- Research data and findings from studies funded by the Health Research Council. These are held by the researcher(s) and host institutions where the research was conducted. Our Research Repository provides details of the lead investigator and host organisation for research funded by the HRC in the past 10 years.
- Information on science and innovation research funding. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has an accessible dataset.
- Enquiries related to hospital, primary care, or community health services. Please visit Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora for details on where to direct your enquiry.
- Complaints about a health and disability service. The Ministry of Health website has information on how to make a complaint about a health or disability service.
Making an OIA request
To make an OIA request, contact the OIA Team:
- via email, at oia@hrc.govt.nz
- by post at The Health Research Council, PO Box 5541, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142.
What to include in your request
Your request should include:
- your name
- your contact details
- clear and specific details about the information you’re requesting.
You can choose how you want us to send you the information you have asked for, by email or post.
How we respond to your request
The OIA requires us to respond to an OIA request within 20 working days.
We can extend this timeframe if your request:
- is large
- requires consultation.
We may transfer your request in full or part to another agency subject to the OIA if they are better placed to respond to it. We will let you know if we do this.
Changing your request
If you make a change to your request, the 20 working days will start again the day after we receive it.
Clarifying your request
We may need to clarify your request with you. If we ask for a clarification within 7 working days of receiving your request, the 20 working days will start again.
Withholding information
We can only withhold information for specific reasons. If we withhold information, we will let you know why.
You can learn more about reasons we may withhold information in sections 6, 9 and 18 of the Official Information Act.
Costs of making a request
It is free to request information. We can charge a fee if it takes a lot of work to get the information you ask for. This fee must be reasonable, and if we need to do this, we will discuss it with you.
Making a complaint
If you are unhappy with our response to your request, contact us [oia@hrc.govt.nz] in the first instance so that we can try to resolve it.
Alternatively you have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman will decide whether to investigate and review our decision and they may make a recommendation to us.
Website: Ombudsman New Zealand | Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata
Phone: 0800 802 602
Email: info@ombudsman.parliament.nz
Postal address: The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143
Contact us
Contact the OIA Team at the Health Research Council
Email: oia@hrc.govt.nz
Postal address: The Health Research Council, PO Box 5541, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142