Politician's Rights to Privacy vs Public Rights to Know
September 2010, Wellington, New Zealand | I S S U E S P A P E R 1 8
ThE PUblIc’S RIghT To KNoW
A REvIEW of ThE offIcIAl INfoRmATIoN AcT 1982 ANd PARTS 1–6 of ThE locAl govERNmENT offIcIAl INfoRmATIoN ANd mEETINgS AcT 1987
The law commission is an independent, publicly funded, central advisory body established by statute to undertake the systematic review, reform and development of the law of New Zealand. Its purpose is to help achieve law that is just, principled, and accessible, and that reflects the heritage and aspirations of the peoples of New Zealand. The Commissioners are: Right honourable Sir geoffrey Palmer Sc – President dr Warren Young – Deputy President Emeritus Professor John burrows Qc george Tanner Qc val Sim The general manager of the law commission is brigid corcoran The office of the law commission is at level 19, hP Tower, 171 featherston Street, Wellington Postal address: Po box 2590, Wellington 6140, New Zealand document Exchange Number: sp 23534 Telephone: (04) 473-3453, facsimile: (04) 471-0959 Email: com@lawcom.govt.nz Internet: www.lawcom.govt.nz
National library of New Zealand cataloguing-in-Publication data New Zealand’s official information legislation [electronic resource] : a review of the official Information Act 1982 and parts 1–6 of the local government official Information and meetings Act 1987. (law commission issues paper ; 18) ISbN 978-1-877569-02-9 1. New Zealand. official Information Act 1982. 2. New Zealand. local government official Information and meetings Act 1987. 3. government information—New Zealand. 4. Public records— law and legislation—New Zealand. I. New Zealand. law commission. II. Series: Issues paper (New Zealand. law commission : online) ; 18. This issues paper is available on the Internet at the law commission’s website: www.lawcom.govt.nz
ii
L a w C om m issi o n I s s u e s P a p e r
Fo r e w ord
The key principle of the official Information Act 1982 and the local government official
ThE PUblIc’S RIghT To KNoW
A REvIEW of ThE offIcIAl INfoRmATIoN AcT 1982 ANd PARTS 1–6 of ThE locAl govERNmENT offIcIAl INfoRmATIoN ANd mEETINgS AcT 1987
The law commission is an independent, publicly funded, central advisory body established by statute to undertake the systematic review, reform and development of the law of New Zealand. Its purpose is to help achieve law that is just, principled, and accessible, and that reflects the heritage and aspirations of the peoples of New Zealand. The Commissioners are: Right honourable Sir geoffrey Palmer Sc – President dr Warren Young – Deputy President Emeritus Professor John burrows Qc george Tanner Qc val Sim The general manager of the law commission is brigid corcoran The office of the law commission is at level 19, hP Tower, 171 featherston Street, Wellington Postal address: Po box 2590, Wellington 6140, New Zealand document Exchange Number: sp 23534 Telephone: (04) 473-3453, facsimile: (04) 471-0959 Email: com@lawcom.govt.nz Internet: www.lawcom.govt.nz
National library of New Zealand cataloguing-in-Publication data New Zealand’s official information legislation [electronic resource] : a review of the official Information Act 1982 and parts 1–6 of the local government official Information and meetings Act 1987. (law commission issues paper ; 18) ISbN 978-1-877569-02-9 1. New Zealand. official Information Act 1982. 2. New Zealand. local government official Information and meetings Act 1987. 3. government information—New Zealand. 4. Public records— law and legislation—New Zealand. I. New Zealand. law commission. II. Series: Issues paper (New Zealand. law commission : online) ; 18. This issues paper is available on the Internet at the law commission’s website: www.lawcom.govt.nz
ii
L a w C om m issi o n I s s u e s P a p e r
Fo r e w ord
The key principle of the official Information Act 1982 and the local government official