New Zealand Chief Ombudsman

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New Zealand's Chief Ombudsman (Nga Kaitiaki Mana Tangata in Maori) is appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand to oversee investigation of complaints against government departments, and report, with recommendations, to parliament.

The post of Ombudsman was established in New Zealand in 1962. Sir Guy Powles, the last governor of Samoa, served as the first Ombudsman. In 1975, the number of ombudsmen was expanded, with Powles assuming the role of Chief Ombudsman and an unspecified number of other ombudsmen.

In 2005, Chief Ombudsman John Belgrave was rocketed to national prominence after he forced the Prime Minister Helen Clark to release treasury costings of her controversial interest-free student loan programme. Clark reluctantly did so, and it was revealed that she and treasurer Michael Cullen had grossly underestimated the cost of it, giving support to the opposition National Party.

Since 2003, John Belgrave has been the country's Chief Ombudsman.