5th International Conference of Information Commissioners: New Zealand

5th International Conference of Information Commissioners: New Zealand

More than 180 delegates from around the world will be gathering at a conference in Wellington, New Zealand, from 26 – 29 November to discuss the opportunities and challenges today’s world presents for freedom of information.

John Belgrave, New Zealand's Chief Ombudsman said: "In 2007 New Zealand will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Official Information Act and the conference will, amongst other things, provide an opportunity to see what can be learnt from this experience and taken forward into the next 25 years.

"It is apparent that no matter how long-standing the rights of access are, new challenges always arise - from developments in technology to the evolution of governance arrangements and shifts in how public services are provided. How Freedom of Information laws can assist the improvement of governance in less developed nations is now part of mainstream development policy and this issue will be a focus for another part of the conference."

Details of the programme can be found here: http://www.icic2007.org.nz/

International Conference of Information Commission (Scoop, New Zealand, 15 November 2007)