Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/19884-leak-of-pre-election-report-under-s99a-of-local-government-act on December 22, 2024 17:10

Leak of Pre Election Report under s99A of Local Government Act

Harris Leigh made this Official Information request to Wellington City Council

The request was successful.

From: Harris Leigh

Dear Wellington City Council,

I am seeking information relation to the leak of the Wellington City Council's Pre-Election Report as required by section 99A of the Local Government Act 2002.

Background
At 5:00am on Tuesday 12 July 2022 the Stuff website published a story quoting extensively from the WCC's Pre-Election Report see: https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/ne...

As an interested citizen as soon as I became aware of the Stuff story, I looked on the WCC website but the report was not available to the public.

The report was subsequently published on or about 8:00am on Tuesday 12 July 2022.

Request
Under the LGOIMA I request the following information:
1) Was the leak of the report to the Stuff website authorised by a council officer; if so, what is the job title of that officer?
2) Will a leak inquiry be launched; if so, will it be conducted internally or will an external authority be tasked with the inquiry?
3) What sanctions could apply to an officer found to have leaked this report?
4) When was the report first published on the WCC website?
5) When was the report first made available to Councillors?
6) When was the report first made available to the Mayor?
7) When was the report first made available to Stuff?

Under the LGOIMA please provide the following documents:
9) A copy of any communications plan or similar document setting out the plan for releasing the statutory Pre-Election Report
10) Any emails, sms texts, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or similar messages between the CEO and Mr Richard McLean or any other Council officer purporting to authorise the leak to Stuff
11) Any emails, sms texts, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or similar messages between the CEO and journalists at Stuff relating to the release of the report
12) Any emails, sms texts, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or similar messages between the Mr Richard McLean and journalists at Stuff relating to the release of the report

Given the serious nature of this leak, please treat this request with the utmost urgency.

With deep concern,

Harris Leigh

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From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council

Tēnā koe Harris

Thank you for your email dated 12 July requesting the below information.

Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to provide a decision as soon as possible, but no later than 10 August, being 20 working days of receipt. We have noted your request for urgency.

The reference number for your request is IRC-3609.

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Kind regards

The Assurance Team
Email: [email address]
Wellington City Council | W Wellington.govt.nz

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.

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From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council

Attachment IRC 3609 Response.docx
1.4M Download View as HTML

Attachment 1.PER Comms plan.pdf
200K Download View as HTML

Attachment 2.Text from Stuff reporter to CE.pdf
81K Download View as HTML

Attachment 3.WCC Stuff pre election report emails.pdf
164K Download View as HTML

Kia ora Harris,

Thank you for your recent LGOIMA request. Please see the attached response.

Ngā mihi
Claudia

Claudia Holgate
Senior Advisor | Official Information Team
Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council 
E [email address]  | W wellington.govt.nz

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