Unlocking secret papers

Diana Aquilina

Previously ‘public excluded’ reports and information from Waipā District Council could be released following a decision this week by councillors.

Legal counsel Diana Aquilina told the council if somebody made a request for a previously excluded paper, the council would do that under a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request.

But until their decision to delegate authority this week, there was no process for proactively releasing the information where there were no longer any grounds to withhold the papers.

“Sometimes the grounds for excluding the public from information/meetings changes over time, in which case the original grounds for withholding the information may no longer apply,” she said.

“This is often the case for commercial information, where its sensitivity may lessen over time.”

There are other times when staff consider a proactive release is timely but Standing Orders provide for the chief executive to firstly inform the council at its next meeting.

The change in delegations mean chief executive Garry Dyet and deputy chief executive Ken Morris can release reports and use their discretion on how and when elected members are informed.

No mention was made of how and when the public would be told.

More Recent News

Scouts make waves

The winter cobwebs have been well and truly blown away. Scout cutters, kayaks and sunbursts took to Lake Rotoroa for the first official boating event of the organisation’s 2025/26 season with the 49th Alistair Kerr…

Money still unpaid

The resource consent application for a waste to energy plant in Te Awamutu remains suspended, a month after the applicant told The News its outstanding bill would be settled. The Environmental Protection Authority suspended processing…

Marae – like village halls

Tamahere residents have been given a different take on why they should support the retention of Waikato District Council’s Māori wards. Ngāruawāhia based Tilly Turner will be returned unopposed to the council’s Tai Runga Māori…

O’Regan does it again

Waipā district mayoral candidates were governed by a red squeaky toy at a meeting last Thursday. And for the second time in a row, sitting mayor Susan O’Regan topped an informal poll. Te Awamutu Business…