Dear Ministry of Justice,

Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA), I am requesting information related to the administrative operations, resource management, performance metrics, and legal aid administration at the North Shore Family Court from January 2020 to December 2024.

This request pertains to systemic operational data, which is expected to be part of standard public service record-keeping practices. As per Section 17(e) of LGOIMA, the substantial amount of information requested does not constitute grounds for refusal.

I am submitting this request as part of a broader effort to understand and improve the transparency, efficiency, and resource management of family court operations in New Zealand.

Legal Framework

This request aligns with the following statutes:

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
Family Court Act 1980
Family Court Rules 2002
Legal Services Act 2011
Public Records Act 2005
Official Information Act 1982

Information Requested

1. Operational Performance and Case Management:

a) Statistical Data (anonymized):
- Monthly breakdown by case type
- Processing timeframes
- Delay frequency and causes
- Error rates and types
- Correction timeframes
- Resolution metrics

For each category, please provide:
- Raw data
- Trend analysis
- Comparative benchmarks
- Variance explanations
- Impact assessments

b) Administrative Efficiency:
- Document processing times
- Error correction rates
- Staff productivity metrics
- Quality control measures
- Compliance statistics

For each category, include:
- Daily/weekly/monthly breakdowns
- Resource allocation data
- Cost implications
- Remediation efforts

2. Resource Management:

a) Staffing Analysis:
- Position-specific workloads
- Training records
- Performance metrics
- Error rates by role
- Productivity measurements

b) Financial Management:
- Transaction costs by type
- Resource utilization rates
- Overtime patterns
- Budget vs. actual spending
- Cost efficiency metrics

For both categories, provide:
- Detailed breakdowns
- Justification documentation
- Impact assessments

3. Legal Aid Administration:

a) Processing Metrics:
- Application volumes
- Processing times
- Approval/decline rates
- Appeal statistics
- Quality measures

b) Financial Oversight:
- Cost per case
- Resource allocation
- Recovery rates
- Administrative costs

Include:
- Efficiency measurements
- Impact assessments
- Performance trends

4. Quality Assurance Framework:
- Error detection methods
- Correction procedures
- Prevention measures
- Training effectiveness
- Performance monitoring

Include:
- Implementation documentation
- Success metrics
- Cost implications
- Resource requirements
- Required Format for All Sections

Data Specifications:
- Raw data in Excel format
- Monthly breakdowns
- Year-over-year comparisons
- Trend analysis and variance explanations
- Impact assessments

Supporting Documentation:
- Decision-making trails
- Internal review processes
- Quality control records
- System modification logs
- Staff training verification
- Audit records

Accountability Documentation:
- Names/positions of responsible officials
- Information management policies
- System audit records
- Regular reporting mechanisms
- Data retention protocols

Additional Notes
- Claims of commercial sensitivity are not applicable as this request relates to public service delivery.
- Privacy concerns can be mitigated through anonymization.
- Administrative burden is not grounds for refusal under LGOIMA.
- The requested period (2020-2024) aligns with standard retention requirements.

Time Sensitivity
- Any anticipated delays must be communicated within five working days.
- Partial information should be released as it becomes available.
- Progress updates are expected regularly.
- Notification of any transferred portions of this request must be provided immediately.

If any information is withheld:
- Please cite specific statutory grounds.
- Provide redacted versions where possible.
- Detail public interest considerations.
- Explain the methodology for partial information provision.

This request and its handling will be documented for potential review by:
- Office of the Ombudsman
- Ministry of Justice oversight team
- Public sector accountability mechanisms

I look forward to your response within the statutory 20 working days.

Yours faithfully,
S. S.

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CC:

Ministry of Justice Official Information Team
Office of the Chief District Court Judge
Office of the Ombudsman
Parliamentary Service (Information Requests)