Official Information Act requests

About the Official Information Act

The Ministry of Health is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).

Under the OIA you can ask us for official information we hold if you are:

a New Zealand citizen
a permanent resident
visiting New Zealand.

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.

Official Information Act – New Zealand Legislation

Before you make an OIA request

Before you make an OIA request, check if the information you are looking for is already available. We regularly release information of public interest, including our responses to OIA requests.

Other sources of information include:

Make an OIA request

To make an OIA request, contact the OIA Services Team.

You can also make an OIA request online.

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.