Does the New Plymouth District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

Alex Harris made this Official Information Act request to New Plymouth District Council

The request was successful.

From: Alex Harris

4 April 2012

Dear New Plymouth District Council,

As you may have read recently, the Whanganui District Council
abolished its opening prayer after a complaint was made to the
Human Rights Commission. I'm interested in learning how widespread
this practice is, so I'd like to request the following information
under the LGOIMA:

* Does the Council open its meetings with a prayer?
* If the answer to the above is "yes", then I'd like a copy of that
prayer (or examples, if more than one is used), when the practice
was first established, whether the council has considered
abolishing it in the wake of the Whanganui decision, and any advice
the council may hold on the prayer's compatibility with both the
Human Rights Act 1993 and Bill of Rights Act 1990.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about
this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the
fyi.org.nz website.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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From: Enquiries
New Plymouth District Council

4 April 2012

Good morning Alex,

Thank you for the email. I have forwarded it through to the officer who is the secretary to the Council whom I'm sure will be able to respond to you as soon as she is able to.

Regards,

Margaret Greig
Customer Support Officer

New Plymouth District Council
Liardet St
Private Bag 2025
New Plymouth 4342

Ph 06-759 6060

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From: FYI Requests

9 April 2012

Dear Sir/Madam

New Plymouth District Council opens meetings of the full Council with a
Karakia.  This has been the practice since the end of 2001.

Regards

Julie Straka
Committee Adviser / International Relations Coordinator

New Plymouth District Council | Liardet St | Private Bag 2025 | New
Plymouth 4342
Ph 06-759 6060 |  Direct dial 06-759 5688
[1]www.newplymouthnz.com | Facebook | Twitter

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From: Alex Harris

9 April 2012

Dear FYI Requests,

Thanks for your response, but it was incomplete. You have failed to
provide a copy of the prayer / Karakia, whether the Council has has
considered abolishing it in the wake of the Whanganui decision, and
any advice the council may hold on the prayer's compatibility with
both the Human Rights Act 1993 and Bill of Rights Act 1990.

Please respond fully to my request, as required by law. If the
latter information does not exist, then a simple statement saying
so is obviously sufficient.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris

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From: FYI Requests

10 April 2012

Dear Sir/Madam

 

The karakia varies at each meeting.   The other information you requested
does not exist.

 

Regards

 

Julie Straka

Committee Adviser / International Relations Coordinator

 

New Plymouth District Council | Liardet St | Private Bag 2025 | New
Plymouth 4342
Ph 06-759 6060 |  Direct dial 06-759 5688

[1]www.newplymouthnz.com | [2]Facebook | [3]Twitter

 

From: FYI Requests [mailto:[4][FYI contact email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 April 2012 12:20 PM
To: STRAKA, Julie
Subject: Re: Local Government Official Information and Meetings request:
Does the New Plymouth District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

 

Dear Julie Straka,

Thanks for your response, but it was incomplete. You have failed to
provide a copy of the prayer / Karakia, whether the Council has has
considered abolishing it in the wake of the Whanganui decision, and
any advice the council may hold on the prayer's compatibility with
both the Human Rights Act 1993 and Bill of Rights Act 1990.

Please respond fully to my request, as required by law. If the
latter information does not exist, then a simple statement saying
so is obviously sufficient.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris
   

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From: Alex Harris

10 April 2012

Dear FYI Requests,

Thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
New Plymouth District Council only: