This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Rail Heritage'.

 
 
03 February 2022 
Official Information Request No. 8140009806 
 (Please quote this in any correspondence) 
Iain Palmer 
[FYI request #17736 email] 
 
 
Dear Iain  
 
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 
Re: support for rail heritage groups 
 
I refer to your email, which we received on 27 November 2021 and subsequent refinement on 
14 January 2022, requesting information about support for rail heritage groups. 
 
I have liaised with our Grants and Incentives Manager and our Team Leader Heritage 
Information in relation to your request. For clarification, we have interpreted the word ‘support’ 
to pertain to financial assistance. 
  1.  What public good activities in the 2020 financial year did Auckland Council undertake 
in support of the various rail heritage groups with its Region? There are a number of 
other rail heritage groups within the Auckland boundary, how has Auckland Council 
supported them? These include; 
- Auckland Dock line Tram 
- Glenbrook Vintage Railway 
- Helensvil e Railway Station Trust 
- Railway Enthusiasts Society Inc 
 
Our  experts  have  found the following rail heritage groups may be operating within the 
Auckland region: 
  •  Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand  
•  Glenbrook Vintage Railway  
•  The Railway Enthusiasts Trust  
•  The MOTAT groups (Western Springs Railway, Western Springs Tramway and the 
Dockline Tram)    
•  Helensvil e Railway Station Trust  
•  Auckland Electric Tramways Company Ltd  
•  Waitakere Tramline Society (closed 2014 and managed by Watercare)  
•  Remuera Railway Station Preservation Trust   
•  Papatoetoe Railway Station Preservation Trust  
•  Swanson Railway Station Trust  
•  Auckland Society of Model Engineers Incorporated (models)   
•  Manukau Live Steamers (small gauge)  
•  Heritage Trams for Henderson Society Inc  
•  Whangapararoa Narrow Gauge Railway  
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142  |  aucklandcouncil.govt.nz  |  Ph 09 301 0101 

 
 
 
We have compared  the above list against applications  to  council’s  community grants 
programme, to see what, if any, applications were made to council for funding. The results are 
as follows: 
  •  Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand – no applications have been received.   
•  Glenbrook Vintage Railway – an application was received in the 17/18 financial year 
and two applications in 19/20.  
•  The Railway Enthusiasts Trust – no applications have been received.  
•  The MOTAT groups (Western Springs Railway, Western Springs Tramway and the 
Dockline Tram). Al  identified grants come under the Auckland Electric Tramways 
Trust or Remuera Railways Station Preservation Trust. 
•  Helensvil e Railway Station Trust – an application was received in 13/14 and one in 
15/16. 
•  Auckland Electric Tramways Company Ltd – an application was received for 17/18; 
four applications in 18/19; one application in 19/20; and one application in 20/21. The 
application in 20/21 was successful and a grant awarded.    
•  Waitakere Tramline Society (closed 2014 and managed by Watercare) - no 
applications were received.  
•  Remuera Railway Station Preservation Trust – three applications were received in 
19/20 and one application in 20/21. The application in 20/21 was successful and a 
grant awarded.  
•  Papatoetoe Railway Station Preservation Trust – only one application was received 
in 14/15.   
•  Swanson Railway Station Trust - no applications have been received.  
•  Auckland Society of Model Engineers Incorporated (models) - no applications have 
been received. 
•  Manukau Live Steamers (small gauge) - no applications have been received.  
•  Heritage Trams for Henderson Society Inc - no applications have been received. 
•  Whangapararoa Narrow Gauge Railway - no applications have been received. 
  2.  Furthermore, what is Councils policy in relation to both supporting and engaging with 
these rail heritage groups? 
 
Auckland Council does not have a specific policy in relation to supporting and engaging with 
rail heritage groups. Therefore, the information pertaining to this question has been refused 
under Section 17 (e) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act -  
that the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite 
reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found. However, Auckland Council provides various 
forms of support to community groups.  On our website there is the section cal ed “Grants, 
Community Support & Housing” which may be of some assistance. For ease of reference, I 
have passed this below; 
 
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/grants-community-support-housing/Pages/default.aspx 
 
Decisions pertaining to the withholding of this information have been made by Morna 
Macfarlane - Acting Group Treasurer. 
 
Should you believe Auckland Council has not responded appropriately to your request, you 
have  the right  by  way  of  complaint,  under  section  27(3)  of  the  LGOIMA,  to  apply  to  the 
Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of the decision. 
 
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142  |  aucklandcouncil.govt.nz  |  Ph 09 301 0101 


If you have any further queries please contact me on 09 301 0101 quoting Official Information 
Request No. 8140009806. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Grace Ray 
Senior Privacy & Official Information Business Partner 
Governance Services 
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142  |  aucklandcouncil.govt.nz  |  Ph 09 301 0101