The Office of the Ombudsmen continues to be under pressure, with 1700 open complaints, about 400 more than in recent years.
Deputy ombudsman Leo Donnelly said delays in dealing with complaints for the office, which is often called upon to deal with complaints about delays, were disappointing, rather than embarrassing.
Staff always tried to avoid delays, but did not want to speed something up and risk not giving it proper consideration.
If complainants were given the option between fast or correct, they would choose the latter.
High complaints numbers had been the "situation for some time now", the result of a combination of things including people "making use of the ombudsman's role".
The office had to recognise that in the existing economic climate extra funding was not an option and for the past 18 months it had been finding smarter ways of working.
Ways to streamline processes included identifying principles which could be used for similar simple complaints, but not to the extent of overlooking matters specific to the case being investigated.
As well, priority had to be given to those complaints where it was considered delays could have the most impact on the people involved.
Trying to get early resolution to straightforward complaints and also "trying to get agencies to change their thinking about how they approach matters" were also part of the office's work.
It was helpful if complainants kept the office up to date with any developments on a complaint.
Traditionally, the office is busier in an election year and this year complaint numbers are also expected to be boosted by the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes.
Towards the end of last month the office had received 77 complaints about the Earthquake Commission since last July, the bulk of them received this year.
