Response corrected and released 25 May 2026
21 January 2026
Cara Brown
[FYI request #33115 email]
Tēnā koe Cara,
Request for Information – Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act (LGOIMA) 1987
We refer to your official information request dated 3 December 2025, seeking al
information relating to The Dowse’s decision to acquire a new work by Shane
Cotton. Specifical y, you requested:
“Please can I request al information relating to The Dowse’s decision to
acquire a new work by Shane Cotton. This includes correspondence,
meeting minutes and acquisition documentation, plus any additional
information held.”
On 4 December 2025, Council wrote to you to explain that the Shane Cotton work
is being commissioned by the Dowse Foundation, an independent charitable
trust. We also advised that the Foundation is responsible for the fundraising
campaign and commissioning process. Council as an organisation does not
manage these activities, although a Council staff member serves as a trustee of
the Foundation in a personal capacity. At the time, Council advised that the
information it held was likely to be limited.
That same day, you responded and advised that you wished to proceed with a
revised scope, requesting:
“Al information held by the Dowse and Hutt City Council regarding the
Dowse Foundation’s recent $100,000 major art commission.”
30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt
[email address]
/
Private Bag 31912, Lower Hutt 5040
huttcitycouncil
0800 488 824
www.huttcity.govt.nz
▲The pattern at the top of this page is inspired by the natural landforms, hil s, river, and coastline surrounding Lower Hutt. It represents our people, our place, and our home.
Answer:
Council has interpreted your revised request as relating to the Dowse
Foundation’s current $100,000 Major Art Commission awarded to Shane Cotton,
including information connected with the commissioning, funding, fundraising
activity, communications, and related decision-making associated with that
commission.
The Dowse Foundation is responsible for commissioning and fundraising activity
associated with the Major Art Commission. Accordingly, the amount of
information held by Council within scope is limited. Council does not hold the
Foundation’s internal records, and the information held by Council that fal s
within the scope of your request consists of correspondence that has been
shared with Council staff.
Appendix 1 below Sets out the documents identified as within scope of your
request and Council’s decision on their release. Some information has been
withheld as it is out of scope of your request, and some has been withheld under
the fol owing provisions of the LGOIMA:
• Section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA, to protect the privacy of individuals,
including patrons’ details and personal contact information,
• Section 7(2)(b)(i ) of the LGOIMA, as release would likely unreasonably
prejudice the commercial position of the Foundation or the artist,
• Section 7(2)(c)(i) and (i ) of the LGOIMA, as the information was provided
and is held under an obligation of confidence, and release would be likely
to prejudice the continued supply of similar information or otherwise
damage the public interest, and
• Section 7(2)(i) of the LGOIMA, as release would be likely to prejudice or
disadvantage the Council’s ability to carry on negotiations, including
donor engagement and procurement of commissioned artwork.
Council has considered whether the public interest in release of the withheld
information outweighs the need to withhold it and has concluded that it does
not.
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Please note that correspondence of a purely administrative nature (for example,
meeting scheduling or logistical arrangements that do not relate to substantive
matters concerning the Major Art Commission) has not been included in this
release.
In addition, to minimise duplication, where multiple versions of the same email
thread exist, only the most recent version of the email chain has been provided,
unless the correspondence diverged into separate threads.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
response. Information about how to make a complaint is available at:
Office of
the Ombudsman - Complaints, or freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response to your information request may be published on
Hutt City Council’s website:
Proactive releases - Hutt City Council.
Ngā mihi nui
Rebekah van der Splinter
Senior Advisor, Official Information and Privacy
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