hey Gary, I received an e mail from FNDC about your info request! Interesting eh? Please feel free to get intouch
Kind regards
Geoff. Waterhouse

Council still have not supplied the information requested within the legal time frame, I have received an email to my private address:
Carla Ditchfield-Hunia <Carla.Ditchfield-Hunia@fndc.govt.nz>
7:07 AM (4 hours ago)
to me

Dear Mr Whitehead

Thank you for your email. We are currently in the process of collating information held by Council and relevant to your request. It is taking longer than we had anticipated. We hope to be able to provide you with information by the end of the week (tomorrow or at the latest Monday). We apologise for the delay but rest assured we are working on your request as we speak.

The information will be provided to you on this email.

Thank you for your patience.

Yours faithfully

Carla Ditchfield-Hunia
Manager - Legal Services
Corporate Services, Far North District Council

We're you able to verify whether a third party was sent your information?

Hi Luke no it wasn't, however in its explanation Council sent me the email address of the person who received the email intended for me.
Council are still working on the request.

A bit disappointing Council wasted so much time on gathering information that was not relevant to my request. I will update once I receive the correct information.

Todays email from Council.
I have still not been supplied with all the information asked.

Inna Shibalova
Attachments
11:21 AM (6 hours ago)
to me
Dear Mr Whitehead
Official Information Request – RFS 3977849 – additional information – clarification of initial request

Thank you for your email to Carla Ditchfield-Hunia received 25 November 2019, which email added to and clarified your initial request of 15 October 2019. Your request has been referred to Legal Services for consideration under the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982 (“the OIA”).

Your initial request dated 15 October 2019 -
“I would like all information on myself that council currently holds including notes, internal emails and comments..”

Your request for additional information dated 25 October 2019 -
“…unfortunately it would seem you did not read my request properly.
I know for a fact that staff have gathered personal information on individuals from social media, press releases and other places. It is these details I am seeking, I know they exist as I have seen the results of a privacy ACT request.

So could I have information on what has been gathered on myself, articles, social media posts or any other means, by, about or including me in anyways, comments on the fore mentioned, use of the fore mentioned and reasons for obtaining the fore mentioned.”

Our response
We provided you with “all information on [yourself] that council currently holds including notes, internal emails and comments..” in our email letter dated 25 November 2019.

FNDC’s Communications Team monitors selected media sources, including social media for coverage and references to the Far North District Council, its executives and elected members only, as well as information on other local authorities that may be relevant in the context of risk management and FNDC’s responsibilities and performance (in other words, is there anything that we should be aware of, need to respond to, or can do better or differently).

While newspaper coverage is monitored daily in a systematic fashion, social media (including community noticeboards) monitoring tends to be sporadic and ad hoc unless there is an issue that warrants close attention.

Communications Team does not proactively “gather personal information on individuals from social media, press releases and other places”. Sometimes information on individuals is captured indirectly as a result of media monitoring described above.

Although, not directly relevant to you or gathered about you, our Communications Team was able to find some records containing information about yourself. Please find those records attached herein.

If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Council on 09 401 5200 or 0800 920 029.

Thank you for your enquiry.
Yours faithfully
Inna

My reply to Council.

Hi Inna.
This is my original request, Which clearly states " Newspaper and social media " I do not acknowledge a need to request additional information when the information was clearly asked for originally.I accept your reasoning but as you take this information as an indication of things to respond to then there will be notes.If there are no notes or any responses to these posts then there is no valid reason for Council to gather them, so why are they being held?Also from viewing another persons Privacy act request this is not all the information held.
Could you please finalise my request ASAP

"Dear Far North District Council,A recent Newspaper article stated that Council PR staff searched Newspapers and social media for critical posts regarding the council.
I would like all information on myself that council currently holds including notes, internal emails and comments.Yours faithfully,Gary Whitehead

I have had no further reply to my request despite Council not supplying all information or giving me the right to correct incorrect information. I have initiated a complaint with the privacy Commission.