16 June 2023
Official information request No. 8140011908
(Please quote this in any correspondence)
Jenni Cook
By email:
[FYI request #22921 email]
Tēnā koe Jenni
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
Re: Al complaints against elected member Jake Law
Thank you for your email of 26 May 2023 about complaints about Jake Law. Your specific
request and our response are set out below.
I wish to receive (sic) all information regarding complaints code of conduct or otherwise laid
against elected Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member Jake Law.
Since the commencement of the current electoral term in October 2022, a total of 16
complaints have been lodged against Jake Law, member of Hibiscus & Bays Local Board.
Fourteen of these complaints were dismissed during the preliminary assessment stage.
Thirteen of these complaints were all related to one incident and the remaining two are
currently being assessed.
Further to Section 7(2)(a) – protect the privacy of natural persons and Section 7(2)(c) – protect
information which is subject to an obligation of confidence, of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987, we cannot disclose any specific details regarding these
complaints. We are under obligation to safeguard the privacy of complainants and other
parties involved. Particularly considering that the complaints received thus far have been
dismissed.
For your information I have set out below a brief explanation of the process which Auckland
Council follows in dealing with complaints against elected members. This process is explained
in our Code of Conduct for Elected Members (Code).
https:/ www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/how-auckland-council-
works/elected-members-remuneration-declarations-interest/Pages/elected-members-code-
conduct.aspx
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101
The Code establishes a framework that elected members must adhere to, and it also provides
for members of the public to lodge complaints if they believe a member has breached the
Code.
The complaints process is overseen by staff, and it begins with the chief executive appointing
an Investigator to conduct a preliminary assessment of the complaint. The purpose of the
preliminary assessment is to examine the allegations and determine whether they constitute
a breach of the Code. The Investigator has the authority to dismiss the complaint or make
non-binding recommendations if there is a breach, but it is not considered significant.
During the preliminary assessment stage, complaints may be dismissed for various reasons.
These reasons include if the complaints are not substantiated, if the allegations lack
supporting evidence, or if it is determined that the complaint has already been adequately
resolved.
If the investigator determines that there may be a material breach involved in any complaint,
the complaint wil be escalated to an external conduct commissioner who may direct mediation
or undertake a full investigation and has the power to issue sanctions. It is worth noting that
none of the complaints made against Jake Law to date have been forwarded to a conduct
commissioner.
Decisions relating to the information that is being released to you were made by
Oliver
Roberts, Acting General Manager Local Board Services.
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.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you have any further queries, please contact me on 09 301 0101 quoting official information
request number 8140011908.
Ngā mihi
Angela Hare
Senior Privacy & LGOIMA Business Partner
Governance Services
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101
