Launch of Official Information Act Book

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - in English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening (Sign)

May I specifically acknowledge you: Minister of Justice Hon Annette King, other Ministers of the Crown, Members of Parliament and Government officials; Beverley Wakem and Ombudsman colleagues; Author Nicola White, Conference Delegates; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for the invitation to be here to attend the launch of Nicola White's new book, Free and Frank: Making the Official Information Act 1982 Work Better, at Parliament this evening.  Given the constitutional niceties, it is not common for a Governor-General to be within the precincts, so it is a pleasure for there to have arisen a suitable set of circumstances for an invitation to be registered and agreed to and the customary advices being given.

I met many of the Conference delegates at the reception at Government House last evening for your fifth International Conference of Information Commissioners, which is being held here at Parliament and hope that day one of your deliberations have been fruitful. 

In my brief contribution to this evening, I wish to reiterate the importance of the New Zealand legislation, which celebrates its 25^th birthday this year. The overriding principle of the Act—that information should be made available unless there is good reason to withhold it—is considered to be of such significance that one of New Zealand's most eminent jurists, the late Lord Cooke of Thorndon, said: "The permeating importance of the Act is such that it is entitled to be ranked as a constitutional measure."

Since the 1982 enactment, other moves such as application of it to local government and state owned enterprises as well as central government, and vetoing of Ombudsman recommendations requiring agreement of Cabinet rather than of an individual minister, can be said to have aided the cause of open government.

Not even the most carefully crafted piece of legislation is however perfect and as a working Ombudsman I was keenly aware of ways in which the law might be improved.  Some defects often reflect changed circumstances rather than any inherent flaw in the legislation itself.  I am therefore as keen as anyone present to read Nicola White's book.

Congratulations are also due to you Andrew Ladley and your team at the Institute of Policy Studies Victoria University on this publication.  Nicola White was able to complete her work whilst an Institute Senior Research Fellow from 2004 to 2006.

The Institute continues to make a contribution to informed discussion of important public policy matters.  In October, there was the launch of another important piece of research undertaken by staff in the Institute, namely Dr Gabrielle Maxwell and Dr James Liu's edited collection, Restorative Justice and Practices in New Zealand: Towards a Restorative Society.  Other research has covered the campaign against the Meningococcal B epidemic, sustainable energy use, climate change and reducing ethnic disparities.

It is a pleasure to be here this evening, offering support in the Maori sense of what is called awhi and tautoko.  I will now hand over to the Minister of Justice, Hon Annette King, who will speak further and formally launch the book.

I will close now and in Maori issue greetings and wish everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa