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Issues with your claim?

If you're facing issues with a claim—whether it’s due to dissatisfaction with the outcome, delays, or suspected wrongdoing—this page outlines who you can escalate your complaint to. From the Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner, to the Independent Police Complaints Authority, these organisations can independently investigate and help resolve your concerns when dealing with government agencies, privacy issues, police conduct, or breaches of your rights.

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Ombudsman
If you are not satisfied with the response, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman deals independently of departments to investigate complaints. These can relate to declines in decisions, information not shared, or concerns about current practices.

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Privacy Commissioner ​

The privacy commissioner deals with complaints about files, which can include breaches of privacy, delays in records or inconsistencies in information given out.

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Independent Police Complaints Authority
If you have concerns about police actions or behaviour, whether you were directly involved or a witness, you can lodge a complaint with the IPCA. The IPCA is an independent body that investigates complaints and reviews the conduct of the police to ensure accountability.


Human Rights Commission​

If your complaint involves discrimination or a breach of your human rights by a government agency, the Human Rights Commission may be able to assist.


Waitangi Tribunal
If your complaint involves breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) in the way a government agency has acted, you can file a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal. They address issues where the Crown may have acted inconsistently with its obligations under the Treaty.

International Bodies

United Nations Human Rights Committee

If your complaint involves a violation of civil or political rights protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and you have exhausted all domestic remedies, you may lodge a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee. This is only possible after you’ve pursued every available legal avenue in New Zealand, and the complaint must relate to rights protected by the ICCPR, which New Zealand is a party to.

United Nations Committee Against Torture
If your complaint involves allegations of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, you can submit a complaint to the Committee Against Torture under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.​

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