Does the Rangitikei District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

Alex Harris made this Official Information Act request to Rangitikei District Council

The request was successful.

From: Alex Harris

18 April 2012

Dear Rangitikei 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: Nina Alexander
Rangitikei District Council

19 April 2012

Thank you for your email. It has been forwarded on to the correct staff member for  a response.

Regards

| Rangitikei District Council | 46 High Street, Private Bag 1102, Marton 4741 |
| P 06 327 0099 (ext 848) or 0800 422 522 | F 06 327 6970 | www.rangitikei.govt.nz|

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From: Clare Hadley
Rangitikei District Council

20 April 2012

Greetings Alex

 

In response to your request for information, I confirm that this Council
does open its meetings with a prayer (copied below).  This practice has
been in place since this Council was constituted in 1989.  The Mayor is
very comfortable commencing meetings with a prayer, and Council has not
considered abolishing it. 

 

Almighty God, as members of the Rangitikei District Council we give thanks
for all the good things of our District and the advantages we enjoy

We pray that you will give us wisdom and guidance as we conduct the
affairs of this meeting.

We pray for all the communities and the District we represent

Help us to be fair and honest in our discussions, and help us to work
together in unity for the welfare of all your people

Amen

 

| Clare Hadley | Chief Executive|

| Rangitikei District Council | 46 High Street, Private Bag 1102, Marton
4741 |

| DDI 06 327 0086 | P 06 327 0099 | F 06 327 6970 | M 0274 358 615 |
[1]www.rangitikei.govt.nz |

 

 

 

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References

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1. http://www.rangitikei.govt.nz/

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