Offices of Parliament: Protecting our democracy through independent oversight

Melanie Webb, Assistant Auditor-General, chaired an insightful discussion about the role of the Offices of Parliament as vital checks on executive power. The discussion reinforced a central theme: the importance of trusted, independent institutions that ensure public accountability and transparency.

Each speaker shared their perspective on how their respective Offices contribute to safeguarding New Zealand’s democracy.

Checks and balances in our democracy

There are three branches in our system of government in New Zealand and their powers are deliberately and carefully separated. The Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary each operate independently from one another, creating a system of mutual accountability, with each branch acting as a check on the others.

The Executive is the elected Government of the day. The Judiciary is the legal system of courts and judges. As part of the Legislature branch, the Offices of Parliament – comprising the Ombudsman, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and the Controller and Auditor-General – provide independent oversight of the Executive.

This constitutional independence from the elected Government enables the Offices to scrutinise actions and decisions without political interference, to deliver findings and recommendations that are grounded in evidence.

Each Office is accountable to Parliament for their operations and has a distinct mandate, but all share a common purpose: strengthening confidence in government institutions by delivering factual, objective, and non-partisan information. Together, they form a network of accountability that strengthens the democratic fabric of New Zealand.

The Ombudsman

Peter Boshier, Chief Ombudsman, underscored the Ombudsman’s role in promoting fairness and transparency across the public sector. Peter described that the work of the Ombudsman acts as a mirror for the public sector, revealing areas for improvement.

The Ombudsman carries out a range of work that contributes to protecting the rights of New Zealanders. This includes the authority under the Ombudsmen Act 1975 to investigate complaints about the administrative conduct of around 4000 public organisations. The Ombudsman also oversees the Official Information Act (OIA) and its local government equivalent, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

The Ombudsman investigates to understand what happened, why a particular decision was made, or what information an organisation holds.

Peter reflected on the importance of fairness in building trust in the Executive. The Ombudsman’s role in investigating complaints and reviewing access to official information helps to ensure that public organisations are held accountable for their actions, contributing to a culture of openness and integrity across government.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE), highlighted the importance of high-quality, impartial information in supporting decision-making. The PCE works to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of institutions that manage interventions on the environment. The PCE’s reports equip Parliament and the public with robust insights into complex issues like climate change and biodiversity, ensuring that policy debates are anchored in fact and informed by evidence.

The PCE focuses on reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of New Zealand’s environmental management system. Based on reviews carried out by his office, the Commissioner makes recommendations on how the environmental management system can be improved.

Simon emphasised the importance of equipping decision-makers with evidence-based information that elevates the quality of debate on environmental issues. The PCE’s work to present evidence in an impartial and accessible way helps to demystify complex topics, supporting transparency and accountability and enabling Parliament to make informed decisions on issues with long-term consequences for New Zealand’s future.

The Controller and Auditor-General

The Controller and Auditor-General has two business units – the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) and Audit New Zealand. Together, the work of these business units provides an independent view of how public organisations are operating – with a particular focus on ensuring transparency and accountability for financial and non-financial performance. This supports Parliament’s scrutiny of the Executive and provides clarity to the public.

Andrew McConnell, Deputy Auditor-General, described the work of the Office as essential to New Zealand’s system of checks and balances. Andrew explained that the Office is responsible for an annual audit of every public entity in New Zealand – this covers not only government departments and Crown entities, but also State-owned enterprises, city and district councils, schools, and universities.

The Office also carries out the Controller function, which provides assurance that spending by government departments is in keeping with Parliament's expectations. Alongside its primary functions, the OAG can also inquire into issues of concern by looking at the way public organisations use their resources.

Andrew highlighted the importance of the OAG’s work providing assurance over both financial and non-financial performance in the public sector. The work of the OAG helps to reduce uncertainty and support a foundation of trust in government processes.

Protecting our democratic systems in a changing world

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the link between information and trust. Simon highlighted that there are two principal checks on power that the Offices of Parliament contribute to: providing information, and procedures that slow down the exercise of power.

In a democratic system, trust depends on transparency, and transparency relies on the availability of accurate, impartial information. Beyond their investigative and oversight roles, the Offices of Parliament play a key role in ensuring that the public, Parliament, and other stakeholders have access to reliable information. Each of the speakers raised the importance of their respective Office’s role in verifying and communicating accurate information.

While the Offices of Parliament are not directly responsible for combatting misinformation, their work helps to mitigate its impact. The Offices provide credible and accessible reports that help to counterbalance the noise of unverified information.

During major policy debates or crises, Parliament, the media, and the public rely on information from trusted institutions to cut through the confusion and provide clarity on important issues. Andrew observed that during moments of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for reliable information becomes especially acute.

The speakers agreed that New Zealand’s public service is generally strong and resistant to the risks of misinformation and disinformation. However, they also recognised the need for continued evolution to address emerging challenges, particularly in our rapidly changing world where misinformation and disinformation can cross borders instantly.

Enduring and evolving institutions

Andrew reflected that the people who work for the Offices of Parliament may come and go, but the responsibilities held by the Offices are enduring. As institutions, the Offices of Parliament continue to evolve to reflect societal changes and emerging challenges. Whether through proactive engagement, expanded outreach, or a focus on public education, we heard that the Offices of Parliament are exploring ways to ensure their continued relevance and impact.

At their core, the Offices of Parliament exist to hold power to account and strengthen trust in public institutions. As independent arbiters of information, they play a vital role in protecting the integrity of New Zealand’s democracy and help to ensure that power is exercised responsibly and transparently.

Join the conversation

The Leaders Integrity Forum is organised by Transparency International New Zealand and hosted at the Office of the Auditor-General.

The forum provides a space for senior public sector leaders to discuss key issues affecting integrity in the public sector. It offers a unique opportunity for free and frank sharing about challenges, solutions, and good practice.

If you are a senior public sector leader interested in attending, please contact Anne Gilbert at [email protected].