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Alex Harris made this Official Information Act request to Wairoa District Council
The request was successful.
From: Alex Harris
24 April 2012
Dear Wairoa 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
From: James Baty
Wairoa District Council
28 April 2012
Hi Alex,
Responses below:
Q: Does the Council open its meetings with a prayer?
A: Yes
Q: 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).
A: Copy attached.
Q: When the practice was first established?
A: We are not sure exactly when this practice was first started, but we can say that it has certainly been in place certainly for over 2 decades. I could have our Archivist investigate further if you require, please advise.
Q: 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.
A: Council is not considering abolishing this practice. We hold no advice on the prayer's compatibility with both the Human Rights Act 1993 and Bill of Rights Act 1990. Moreover we have never received any complaints about this practice.
Regards,
James
James Baty
Administration Manager
P: +64 6 838 7309
F: +64 6 838 8874
M: +64 27 3929029
PO Box 54 | WAIROA 4160
www.wairoadc.govt.nz
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