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.

In 2003, John Belgrave was appointed the country's Chief Ombudsman. However he later died in office on December 3, 2007 due to cancer. ^[1]

Beverley Wakem is currently the Acting Chief Ombudsman. On 14 April 2008 the Officers of Parliament Committee recommended that the appointment be made permanent^[2]

[edit] List of Chief Ombudsmen

Sir Guy Powles, KBE CMG (Official title was simply "Ombudsman" until 1975) - 1962-1977
Sir George Laking, KCMG - 1977-1984
Lester Castle - 1984-1986
Sir John Robertson - 1986-1994
Sir Brian Elwood - 1994-2003
John Belgrave, DCNZM - 2003-2007
Beverley Wakem, CBE - 2008-Present