New Zealand Law Society - Guide on OIA requests for draft documents released

Guide on OIA requests for draft documents released

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The Office of the Ombudsman has released a new Guide to the Official Information Act and Draft Documents.

The Office says agencies can sometimes struggle with OIA requests for draft documents.

"There is no special exemption for drafts under the OIA, and none of the withholding grounds relate specifically to drafts. However, there can be legitimate reasons why it is sometimes necessary to withhold them."

The guide explains the reasons for legitimate withholding and sets out some general principles applying to OIA requests for draft documents. Case studies are used to illuistrate the application of these principles in practice.

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