Protected Disclosures

Protected disclosures for defence matters

The Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022(external link) aims to facilitate disclosure and investigation of serious wrongdoing in the workplace, and protect employees and other workers who raise these concerns.

The Inspector-General of Defence is the appropriate authority to receive protected disclosures from current or past members or employees of the New Zealand Defence Force or from any person in relation to defence information.

If the protected disclosure relates to classified information, and is not defence information, then the appropriate authority is the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security(external link).

The Inspector-General of Defence may inquire into issues arising from a protected disclosure or transfer a protected disclosure to another approved authority with relevant expertise (e.g. the Auditor-General, regarding disclosures of serious financial wrongdoing).

What is a protected disclosure?

A current or past employee, including a secondee, contractor or volunteer, can make a protected disclosure of serious wrongdoing in or by their organisation to an appropriate authority.

Serious wrongdoing is any action, omission or conduct that is one or more of the following:

  • an offence;
  • a serious risk to public health, public safety, the health or safety of an individual, or the environment;
  • a serious risk to the maintenance of law, including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences, or the right to a fair trial;
  • an unlawful, a corrupt, or an irregular use of public funds or public resources;
  • oppressive, unlawfully discriminatory, or grossly negligent, or that is gross mismanagement, and is done (or is an omission) by: 
    • an employee of a public sector organisation; or
    • a person performing (or purporting to perform) a function or duty or exercising (or purporting to exercise) a power on behalf of a public sector organisation or the Government.

Making a protected disclosure to the IGD

To contact the Inspector-General:

Phone: +64 4 470 0326
Email:   [email protected]
Post:    PO Box 609, Wellington 6140
Meet:   The Inspector-General can arrange a meeting at the IGD office or off-site.

You can contact the office of the Inspector-General at any time for guidance or information on protected disclosures.