Ombudsman Prof Ron Paterson is investigating a complaint against Southern District Health Board over its decision to withhold information about plans for southern healthcare.
Health board commissioner Kathy Grant submitted "detailed work plans'' to Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman last year.
But citing the need to protect "free and frank'' expression of views, the health board refused to release them under the Official Information Act.
The Otago Daily Times complained to the Office of the Ombudsman, citing a lack of information about changes planned in southern healthcare under the commissioner regime.
Board meetings, which were open to the public, have not been held for more than six months, since the board members were sacked.
A letter from the Office of the Ombudsman this week confirmed Prof Paterson was investigating, and the office had written to chief executive Carole Heatly to notify the health board.
The existence of the plans was revealed in material released by Dr Coleman's office last year.
"These additional work plans are designed to support both the delivery of the key performance targets in the period to October 2016 and the enhancement of underlying systems, processes and capabilities which are fundamental to the refocusing of the SDHB and the achievement of both short- and longer-term targets,'' a report from Mrs Grant to Dr Coleman released under the OIA said.
Mrs Grant did not respond to requests for an interview.
A Bill cancelling the 2016 Southern DHB election passed its first reading, and is before a select committee.
Submissions on the Bill close on February 3.
