Dr Sharma made the allegations on Thursday during a television interview, saying new MPs attended a workshop on how to communicate with ministers.
Dr Sharma alleged part of the workshop included tips on how to not say "anything for which the Prime Minister has to stand up and do a media stand-up. But also, how not to get an OIA’d issue".
Judge Boshier confirmed he had written to Ms Ardern to "seek assurances" about Labour’s OIA obligations.
"I am aware of the allegations made by Dr Sharma about the workshop advice and training given to Labour MPs on the Official Information Act," Judge Boshier said.
"I have written to the Prime Minister to seek her assurance that she, along with her ministers, MPs and staff, understand their obligations under the OIA and apply the right processes when handling official information and responding to requests."
The Prime Minister’s office said in a statement it "both understands and acts in accordance with the OIA", in response to Judge Boshier’s concerns.
"The Government ... will continue to support MPs to understand their obligations under the Act," the statement read.
Earlier yesterday, senior Government minister Chris Hipkins said Dr Sharma had made things "very difficult for himself".
He and fellow Labour Cabinet ministers have pushed back against his claims Dr Sharma’s suspension on Tuesday was predetermined at a secret meeting the previous night.
Dr Sharma has turned up the heat on Ms Ardern, accusing her of lying and again calling for an independent investigation into his accusations of bullying by party whips — and into the complaints about his own office.
He broke his silence on Thursday night, saying he had secretly recorded a 55-minute phone call with a senior Labour MP on Monday night following a meeting to which the entire caucus — apart from him — had been invited.
In that conversation, he claims, the MP told him several times the outcome was predetermined in that meeting.
He told Newshub last night there was "something very big going on here and there is a cover-up".
Dr Sharma was suspended from Labour’s caucus on Tuesday, after an hours-long meeting he declined to attend which ostensibly was to decide his fate.
It had been framed by Ms Ardern as a final warning for Dr Sharma, an olive branch giving him a chance to remain in the party after he repeatedly breached caucus confidentiality and brought the party into disrepute.
Ms Ardern said the caucus felt he had broken their trust — the reason for excluding him from the secret meeting on Monday, as MPs feared he would record the meeting being held via teleconferencing — and he had to earn it back.
The caucus will meet again on Tuesday to vote on whether to expel him permanently.
Mr Hipkins said the outcome was disappointing.
"He’s clearly a bright and talented person who had a lot to offer, and I think it’s unlikely now that he will have the opportunity to offer that because of the actions that he himself has taken.
"I think that’s quite sad ... I think he’s made it very difficult for himself."
In Dunedin yesterday, fellow Cabinet minister Dr David Clark denied the outcome was predetermined, and said the reason Dr Sharma was excluded had been made clear.
"I think it’s been publicly pretty clear that a lot of people didn’t feel safe asking questions about his conduct," Dr Clark said.
Another minister, Stuart Nash — also in Dunedin — stridently rejected Dr Sharma’s claims.
"No, not in any way shape or form ... It wasn’t predetermined at all."
Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty — a minister outside the Cabinet and previously the chief whip — has been the main subject of Dr Sharma’s complaints of bullying but yesterday
also denied the claims Dr Sharma’s suspension had been predetermined.
What does seem predetermined now is Dr Sharma’s expulsion from the party next week.
He could remain as an independent for his Hamilton West electorate in the same way Jami-Lee Ross did after his exit from National, but Labour could also choose to make use of the waka-jumping legislation.
Under that law, a letter sent to the Speaker of the House would guarantee Dr Sharma’s removal from Parliament entirely. — RNZ
