17 May 2021
File Ref: OIAP-8-31393
Tony Randle
[FYI request #15050 email]
Dear Mr Randle
Request for information 2021-072
I refer to your latest email dated 14 May 2021 and specifically in relation to the worksheets provided.
The following is an excerpt from your email which includes your current request for clarification:
“Finally, I previously stated
210506 GWRC Response Attachment 1 OIA 21 72 A B D Copy of Draft Rates 2021 3 March 2021",
some of the worksheets are password protected and this makes it difficult to analyse the
information. Can either the spreadsheet password or a version of the Rates calculation spreadsheet
without protection please be provided ?
Your response of 14 May 2021 is:
"We did not release the document with any password encryption so you should be able to access
the worksheets in their entirety. As a note, the black tabs such as “District Wide Rates” are title tabs
and do not contain any information."
This is simply wrong. It is not possible "to access the worksheets in their entirety". The spreadsheet
Attachment 1 sent to me on 3rd March 2021 has the following worksheets as password protected
sheets inside Excel:
* Instructions
* UHCC Adjustments
* River management
* Stadium
* Public transport
* Pest
* Water levy
* Rates Check - UHC
* Rates Check - KCDC
* Checks
* 2
* 3
Wellington office
Upper Hutt
Masterton office
0800 496 734
PO Box 11646
PO Box 40847
PO Box 41
www.gw.govt.nz
Manners St, Wellington 6142
1056 Fergusson Drive
Masterton 5840
[Wellington Regional Council request email]
* 4
* 5
* 6
I REPEAT, can the GWRC please provide either the password used to protect these worksheets in the
Attachment 1 spreadsheet or a copy of this spreadsheet without password protected worksheets ?
(This is now a matter or urgency).”
Greater Wellington’s response in relation to the Copy of Draft Rates 2021 (3 March 2021)
calculation spreadsheet is as follows:
Whilst the spreadsheet does not contain any password encryption, the majority of the tabs in the
spreadsheet have been protected by password to ensure that values are not inadvertently changed.
As noted in the ‘Instructions’ tab, should a user need to amend the content of a tab, the password
is ‘gwrcrates.’ All yellow cells are input cells. The following is the relevant excerpt on the
‘Instructions’ Tab:
“Conventions
All yellow cells are input cells.
The majority of tabs in this spreadsheet have been protected to ensure that values aren't inadvertantly
changed.
Should a user need to amend the content of a tab the password required is "gwrcrates".
Cells C110 – C116 in the sheet “Control” have no formulas. The numbers reflect the rating
requirement for Flood Protection maintenance activities and capital improvements that occur in the
district. The numbers are collated and manually input from the Council budgeting model.
The remaining part of your request for clarification, which is detailed below will be responded to
separately:
“Having now reviewed this document I find it does not contain any cost or benefit information on
these items. This document does not constitute a "business case, benefit cost assessment, the
detailed costing and the detailed funding" for either the
* “Wellington Rail Development Plan - Additional Rolling Stock (15 2 carriage units) to increase
capacity in electrified area in 2027-2030” that has a LTP cost of $134M or
* “Wellington Rail Development Plan- Associated Operational costs” that has a LTP cost of $37M
The GWRC must have some costing, benefit and/or patronage analysis information supporting the
funding of items as they are in the LTP for funding approval ! Can the requested information
originally requested as Item S and Item T please be provided as a matter of urgency ?”
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If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to request
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Yours sincerely
Samantha Gain
General Manager, Corporate Services
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