9 March 2026
File Ref: IRC-9631
Leigh Sutton
[FYI request #33430 email]
Tēnā koe Ms Sutton
Thank you for your request 5 January 2026, to Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council (the
Council). As per my letter dated 9 February 2026, your request was extended to allow for
consultations, this has now taken place. Your request has been considered under the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). I have addressed your questions
in turn below.
•
Please provide any information you hold regarding the work undertaken for WCC by Agite
Consulting from 1 July 2023 to the present, in particular:
1) information about the appointment of Agite, including:
a) recommendations, references or communications from third parties
b) correspondence between the CEO and other parties
c) records of the tendering process and any Requests for Proposal or similar requests.
2) reports or other communications received from Agite in support of the contract for
engagement.
3) internal approval records at WCC to requisition the engagement of Agite for each piece of
work.
4) records of the services provided by Agite and the amounts charged for those services.
5) any WCC internal reports evaluating the work undertaken by Agite.
6) any LGOIMA requests received from other parties about Agite and the WCC, and the
responses to those LGOIMA requests.
Appointment of the Transport Planning & Strategic Support and the Independent Advisory Panel:
Agite Consulting was engaged through a targeted procurement process appropriate to the scope,
value, and timeframe of the work. Agite Consulting was appointed to the Wellington City Transport
Plan Independent Advisory Panel following presentations to councillors on concepts and principles
relevant to transport planning. Their subsequent appointment reflects Agite’s demonstrated
experience and capability to provide independent advisory support in transport planning.
The Council holds no evaluation reports assessing the performance of Agite Consulting. This part of
your request has been refused under section 17(e) of the LGOIMA that the document alleged to
contain the information requested does not exist. There is a committee paper that shows the outcome
of their work which can be found here -
Council Meeting 12 December 2024. The Advisory Panel
contracts ended early following the Council decision to not progress the Transport Plan.
There is no correspondence between the Council’s CEO and other parties or recommendations,
references or communications from third parties regarding Agite Consulting. This part of your request
has been refused under section 17(e) of the LGOIMA that the document alleged to contain the
information requested does not exist.
The following documents relate specifically to the Independent Advisory Panel/Transport Plan and fall
within the scope of your request:
Item
Document Name
Decision & Reasons
2024-209 Transport Planning and
1.
Delivery Strategic Support – July
Release with redactions under section 7(2)(a)
2024
Agite contract Proposal - Transport Release with redactions under section 7(2)(a) &
2.
Planning & Strategic Support - June 7(2)(b)(ii)
2024
2024-329
Transport
Plan Release with redactions under section 7(2)(a) &
3.
Independent Advisory Panel – 7(2)(b)(ii)
August 2024
Agite Scope of work - Independent
4.
Release with redactions under section 7(2)(a)
Advisory Panel
2024-329
GMC
Services Release with redactions under section 7(2)(a) &
5.
Agreement (Schedule 1) - August 7(2)(b)(ii)
2024
6.
Contract Termination Letter
Release with redactions under section 7(2)(a)
Release with redactions under section 7(2)(a)
7.
Retainer Contract extension
Below are the records of services provided by Agite for the Independent Advisory Panel and Transport
Plan.
Invoice Amount Default
Description
Comment
(Inclusive)
Date
Required
$47,092.50
Jul-2024 Transport Planning and
Consulting & advice with perspective on
Delivery Strategic Support - the changing political, policy and
2024-209
governance environment in Wellington, as
per contract.
$22,425.00
Dec-2024 Extension to contract -
Extension to the original contract 2024-329.
2024-209
$79,589.27
Sept-2024 Wellington City Transport
Advisory Panel set up to aid in completion
Plan Independent Advisory of the Wellington Transport Plan –
Panel. - 2024-329
Providing independent assurance, support,
advice and guidance to the Chief Planning
Officer and Manager Strategic Planning.
Appointment of Mātai Moana Engagement:
Agite Consulting was engaged to support the Mātai Moana project, where specialist strategic
communications and advisory capability was required, and internal capacity was limited. The
appointment followed a recommendation from the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust based
on Agite’s experience in culturally sensitive communications.
A proposal was requested from Agite, which was reviewed, and Agite was considered to demonstrate
the capability, independence, and relevant experience required for the project, while being consistent
with market terms and value. The procurement approach was a direct award with a Purchase Order
raised and approval sought via email. Extension was within business unit delegation and did not
require additional approval.
There is no correspondence between the Council’s CEO and other parties or evaluations reports
regarding Agite Consulting. This part of your request has been refused under section 17(e) of the
LGOIMA that the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist.
The following documents relate specifically to the Mātai Moana engagement and fall within the scope
of your request:
Wellington City Council | 2 of 4
Item
Document Name
Decision & Reasons
Release with redactions under section
8.
Recommendations from third parties
7(2)(a)
Release with redactions under section
9.
Proposal for contract – November 2024
7(2)(a)
Communications between Agite & WCC Release with redactions under section
10.
supporting contract for engagement
7(2)(a)
Release with redactions under section
11.
Po approval for Matai Moana
7(2)(a) and some redacted as out of
scope
Below are the records of services provided by Agite for Mātai Moana Engagement
Invoice
Default Date Description
Comment
Amount
Required
(Inclusive) $34,500.00
Dec-2024
Strategic Support Matai
Strategic communications and advisory
with an
Moana Engagement
support to inform the Mātai Moana joint
$18,400
management proposal, including
extension.
development of cultural narrative,
stakeholder messaging, and
communications inputs to support Council
and partner decision-making. Strategic
Communications Support towards the Joint
Management Proposal.
The Council has received two other LGOIMA requests relating to Agite Consulting and the Council.
These are noted below:
Item
Document Name
Decision & Reasons
12.
IRC-9430 – FYI Website
Release
Release with redactions under section
13.
IRC-9571 - Individual
7(2)(a)
Reasons for redactions:
Some information has been withheld or refused under the below sections of the LGOIMA:
• 7(2)(a) protect the privacy of natural persons
• 7(2)(b)(ii) protect information where the making available of the information would be likely
unreasonable to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the
subject of the information.
• 17(e) that the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or despite
reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
• Out of scope – Some information has been redacted as out of scope as the information is not
related to Agite.
As per section 7(1) of the LGOIMA, I do not consider that in the circumstances of this response, the
withholding of this information is outweighed by the other considerations which render it desirable to
in the public interest to make the information available.
I trust this information is helpful. If you have any concerns about this response please contact
[Wellington City Council request email]. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to raise any concerns
with the Office of the Ombudsman at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Wellington City Council | 3 of 4
Asha Harry
Official Information & Privacy
Wellington City Council
Wellington City Council | 4 of 4
