Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier
(Reprinted with permission from the Office for Seniors. Source “Seniors Newsletter” – December 2024 and Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier)
As the Chief Ombudsman, I have a unique and independent role that helps New Zealanders deal with government agencies.
We have played this important role in
New Zealanders lives since 1962, the year New Zealand established an Office of Ombudsman.
Sir Guy Powles was appointed as the first New Zealand Ombudsman, and we were the fourth country, after Sweden, Finland and Denmark to establish an Office of the Ombudsman.
When the role was first established, it was limited to investigating complaints about central government departments and organisations.
A lot has changed over the last 60 years, and the role of the Ombudsman is now much broader than it was in 1962.
Fast forward to 2018, my role expanded to include the monitoring of those parts of aged care facilities where residents are unable to leave at will, such as secure dementia level care or specialised hospital care (psychogeriatric level care).
It is important I take an independent and objective look at the way the residents are treated and their living conditions by visiting and inspecting the facilities.
Over the last year, we made 72 visits and inspections to a cross section of facilities, ranging from small single owner businesses to those run by national providers.
These visits help ensure people are treated humanely and their rights are respected and protected. It is also a chance to help educate and raise awareness of my role with aged care providers.
Read more about aged care monitoring
Broader role
Outside of these inspections, I also continue to investigate complaints about government agencies, carry out investigations and make recommendations to promote wider improvement in the public sector.
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