Make a complaint

Who to complain to

1. For complaints about a government agency

   You can complain to the Office of the Ombudsman if you think a government agency has treated you unfairly.

   The Office of the Ombudsman is independent from government agencies and offers a free service. The Ombudsman cannot investigate court decisions.

   Make a complaint to the Ombudsman

   Before contacting the Office of the Ombudsman, you will usually need to make a complaint to the government agency first.

   Find more information about a government agency, and how to contact them

   If you are not happy with the agency’s response, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman.

   You can make a complaint to the Ombudsman by:

   • Filling in their online complaint form(external link)
   • Sending a letter addressed to the Office of the Ombudsman, Freepost, PO BOX 10152, Wellington 6140

   More information about what you can complain to the Office of the Ombudsman about can be found on their website.

   Make a complaint | Office of the Ombudsman(external link)

2. For complaints about police officers, staff, or services.

   You can contact the New Zealand Police, or you can make a complaint to the Independent Police Authority (IPCA), who is independent from the police.

   Make a complaint to the police

   You can make a complaint to the police by:

   • Filling out their online complaint form(external link)
   • Calling 105
   • Visiting your local police station
   • Sending a letter addressed to the Police Commissioner, Police National Headquarters, PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140.
   • For a less formal option, you can fill in the police’s online feedback form(external link)

   Make a complaint to the IPCA

   You can make a complaint to the IPCA by:

   • Filling out their online complaint form(external link)
   • Emailing them at info@ipca.govt.nz
   • Sending a letter addressed to IPCA, PO Box 25221, Wellington 6140.
3. For complaints about lawyers, legal aid lawyers, or prosecutors

   You can make a complaint to the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) about any lawyer (including legal aid lawyers) and law firms. You can also make a complaint about a legal aid lawyer to Legal Aid Providers at the Ministry of Justice or a complaint about a prosecutor to the Solicitor-General through the Crown Law Office.

   Make a complaint to the New Zealand Law Society

   You can make a complaint to the NZLS by:

   • Filling in their online complaint form(external link)
   • Filling in a digital copy of their complaint form and sending it to complaints@lawsociety.org.nz  
   • Sending a completed copy of their complaint form to PO Box 5041, Lambton Quay, Wellington 6145

   You can also contact them for help making a complaint or raising your concerns with the lawyer directly.  Please note that complaints made to the NZLS cannot be made anonymously.

   New Zealand Law Society complaints service(external link)

   Make a complaint to Legal Aid Providers 

   You can make a complaint to Legal Aid Providers by:

   • Filling in a digital copy of the legal aid complaint form and sending it to legalaidcomplaints@justice.govt.nz 
   • Sending a completed copy of the legal aid complaint form to Legal Aid Providers, Ministry of Justice, SX10088, Wellington

   If you would like help to make a legal aid complaint you can freephone 0800 253 425.

   Legal Aid complaints | Ministry of Justice(external link)

   Make a complaint to the Solicitor-General

   You can make a complaint to the Solicitor-General by:

   • Emailing publicprosecutionunit@crownlaw.govt.nz 
   • Sending a letter to PO Box 2858, Wellington 6140
   • Calling Crown Law on +64 4 472 1719. If the concern is complex or unclear, you may be asked to put it in writing as well.

   More information about what you can complain to the Solicitor-General about can be found on Crown Law’s website.

   Formal complaints | Crown Law(external link)

4. For complaints about court staff, interpreters, or court victim advisors

   You can make a complaint to the Ministry of Justice by:

   • Emailing complaints@justice.govt.nz 
   • Sending a letter to National Office, Ministry of Justice SX10088, Wellington

   Question, feedback or complaints | Ministry of Justice(external link)

5. For complaints about a judge’s conduct

   You can complain to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner by:

   • Filling in their online complaints form(external link)
   • Freephone 0800 800 323
   • Emailing judicialconduct@jcc.govt.nz 
   • Sending a letter to the Office of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner, PO Box 2661, Wellington

   Please note that the commissioner cannot investigate legal decisions made by judges.

   Make a complaint | Judicial Conduct Commissioner(external link)

6. For complaints about prisons, corrections staff, or the Victim Notification Register

   You can make a complaint to the Department of Corrections by:

   • Filling in their online complaint form(external link)
   • Emailing victim.complaints@corrections.govt.nz 

   For complaints about the Victim Notification Register

   If you are on the Victim Notification Register, you can make a complaint by:

   • Emailing victim.complaints@corrections.govt.nz 
   • Sending your complaint to Victim Information Manager, Department of Corrections, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140

   If you are not on the Victim Notification Register, you can make a complaint by:

   • Emailing inspectorate@corrections.govt.nz 

   Contact us | Department of Corrections(external link)

7. For complaints about parole hearings or services

   You can make a complaint to the NZ Parole board by:

   • Emailing info@paroleboard.govt.nz 
   • Freephone 0800 727 653
8. For complaints about family group conferences or youth justice coordinators

   You can make a complaint to Oranga Tamariki by:

   • Filling in their online complaint form(external link)
   • Calling 0508 326 459 and asking to be put through to the Feeback and Complaints team
   • Contacting your local office

   Feedback and complaints | Oranga Tamariki(external link)

9. For complaints about human rights violations

   You can make a complaint to Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission if you believe you have experienced unlawful discrimination or another behaviour that is prohibited under the Human Rights Act(external link).

   The Commission may be able to help with complaints about:

   • sexual harassment
   • racial harassment
   • conversion practices or attempts to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression
   • harmful or hate speech directed at a group because of a personal characteristic, such as race, religion, gender or disability.

   You can also make a complaint if you are being treated unfairly because you made a complaint under the Human Rights Act or reported serious wrongdoing.

   You can make a complaint to the Human Rights Commission by:

   • Email: infoline@hrc.co.nz
   • Freephone: 0800 496 877 and leave a message. A case advisor will contact you.
   • Online complaint form(external link) 

   More information about what you can complain about and how to make a complaint can be found on the Human Rights Commission website.

   Making a complaint | Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission(external link)

10. For complaints about media coverage

    For complaints about programmes on TV and radio, and certain internet content, you can contact the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).

    Complaints | Broadcasting Standards Authority(external link)

    For complaints about news online and in print, you can contact the New Zealand Media Council (NZMC). In some cases, you may need to complain to the broadcaster first.

    Complaints | New Zealand Media Council(external link)

11. For complaints about privacy or personal information

    You can make a complaint if you are concerned about how an agency or organisation has collected, stored, used or shared your personal information. You can also make a complaint if an organisation will not let you access your personal information or correct information that is wrong.

    Make a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner

    Before you can make a complaint to the Privacy Commission, you will need to raise the issue with the agency first.

    Find a government agency and how to contact them

    If the issue is not resolved, you can make a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner.

    Complain to the Privacy Commissioner | Office of the Privacy Commissioner(external link)

12. Make a complaint to the Victims Information team

    If your complaint does not relate to any of the agencies or services listed above, you can contact the Victims Information team.

    Include in your email: 

    • your name
    • your preferred email address or phone number
    • your case number (if you know it)
    • a short description of the issue or circumstance you would like to complain about including:
      • what occurred
      • when it happened
      • where it happened
      • the names of any people involved (if relevant).

    To protect your privacy, please only include information that directly relates to your complaint about the service or agency.

    Please do not attach any files in your email.

    Email victimscentre@justice.govt.nz 

    We understand that making a complaint can be difficult. Share only the information you feel comfortable providing that helps explain your concerns.

    If you have any questions about your personal information, please refer to the Victims Information website privacy statement