Commitment 7 of the Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan aims to improve scrutiny of legislative clauses that override the Official Information Act 1982. Over 85 such overrides exist, with 20 added in the last three years, limiting public access to government information.
We argue these override clauses should be removed entirely, as the OIA already protects privacy and commercial sensitivity. We propose mandatory formal opinions from the Secretary of Justice and Chief Ombudsman, full online publication of these opinions, summaries for Cabinet and Select Committees, and a legislative audit to identify redundant exemptions.
The OIA is essential for transparency and accountability, exposing wasteful government spending. Without strict scrutiny, agencies can bypass transparency obligations, reducing public oversight; high-level expert review ensures government actions remain accountable to New Zealanders.
