24 January 2025
Mitch
Sent via email to
[FYI request #29699 email]
RE: LG25-0007 - Glendhu Bay 1920 Land Gift
Dear Mitch,
REQUEST FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION – DECISION TO REFUSE INFORMATION
Thank you for your request for information held by the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). On
7 January 2025 you requested the following information under the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA):
•
The Scaife family owned Glendhu Station and the Glendhu Bay campground in New Zealand
for three generations and gifted the campground to the Queenstown Lakes District Council
in 1920 on the proviso that it was to remain in perpetuity as ‘an affordable camp for
everyday
Kiwis’.
Please provide any and all documentation held by Queenstown-Lakes District Council in
regard to this land gift.
QLDC RESPONSE
Decision to refuse information
We have good reason under section 17(e) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 (LGOIMA) for refusing the information requested. We consider it is necessary to refuse the
requested information on the basis of the following grounds:
• Section 17(e) – that the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist
or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
Section 17(e) of the LGOIMA clarifies that a local authority is not required to provide information that
does not exist or cannot be found despite reasonable efforts. This ensures that the absence of
information is not due to negligence but reflects its genuine non-existence.
In response to your request, we consulted with both the QLDC Parks and Open Spaces Team and the
QLDC Knowledge Management - Records Team, who conducted a thorough search of our physical files
in the records room, our Enterprise Content Management system, as well as publicly available records.
Publicly available records indicate that the land was surrendered to the Crown in 1938, rather than in
the 1920s. The land was subsequently vested to a council-controlled Domain Board in 1938/39. No
records are held between Scaife and the Department of Lands and Survey.
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While QLDC possess extensive records regarding the leasing of the campground, we have been unable
to locate any historical files or information from the requested time period.
As a local authority, we are committed to fulfilling our obligation to provide access to information that
we hold. However, pursuant to Section 17(e) of the LGOIMA, we are unable to release information
that either does not exist or cannot be found despite our reasonable efforts.
It is recommended that you contact Archives New Zealand and the Hocken Collections at the
University of Otago Library as potential sources of information. You may also conduct your own
searches v
ia Papers Past | Newspapers Home. Please find below several links to historical documents that we believe may be relevant to your
research:
•
Scaife surrender land for camp September 1938
•
Lake County Council declares campground
• Glendhu Domain Board established
o
Papers Past | Newspapers | Otago Daily Times | 29 May 1939 | LAKE COUNTY
o
Papers Past | Newspapers | Southland Times | 29 May 1939 | HIGHER RATE IN LAKE
COUNTY
o
Papers Past | Newspapers | Lake Wakatip Mail | 30 May 1939 | LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL
•
Temporarily set aside pastoral lease for recreation February 1939
•
Permanently Reserve March 1939
•
Declared Glendhu Domain March 1939
•
The 1939 Annual Report on Public Domains and National Parks by the Department of Lands
and Survey
•
Commissioner of Crown Lands Dunedin advises Scaife’s surrendered land can be resumed by
the Crown under the Land Act and vested to a Domain Board (Council-controlled)
•
Councillor reports on interview with Scaife
•
Lake County Council and Commissioner of Crown Lands Dunedin meet Scaife on site to discuss
the proposal
•
Minister of Lands informs Lake County Council of approval to designate an area of Glendhu as
a public domain; Council appointed as a Domain Board
•
Otago Land Board reports that Scaife has applied to surrender 12 acres for the purpose of a
camping site which is accepted (later records show 14 acres was the final agreement)
Right to review the above decision
Note that you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about this process is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800
802 602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please cont
act [email address]
(Stakeholder and Democracy Services Manager).
We trust the above information satisfactorily answers your request.
Kind regards,
Renee
2
Democracy Services team
Queenstown Lakes District Council P: +64 3 441 0499 E: [email address]
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