Kia Ora,

Thank you for your email.

We are handling your request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). We have forwarded it to the appropriate Christchurch City Council staff, and we will provide a response or update within 20 working days of the date we received your request. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact me. If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact me so that these can be taken into account.

If you have not had a reply within 10 working days please email us at [Christchurch City Council request email]

Kind regards,

Sean Rainey
Manager Official Information

-----Original Message-----
From: Mx Boyle <[FOI #34042 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2026 10:56 pm
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Information on selection of OpShop to perform at GoLive festival

[You don't often get email from [FOI #34042 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Christchurch City Council,

I wish to request all information, email communications, financials, selection process/criteria and briefings (to councillors), minutes and decisions (i.e. who made them) around the selection of OpShop to headline the coming GoLive festival.

Specifically, I wish to request information showing at what stage officers and councillors became aware of the concerning conspiracy theorist views held by Jason Kerrison of OpShop and his very public statements and actions relating to them.

Additionally I would request the risk assessments undertaken by officers of council choosing to pay, platform and promote such views using public funds and the implications and effects this may have on the community they serve.

Yours faithfully,
Mx Boyle

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
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Is [Christchurch City Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Christchurch City Council? If so, please contact us using this form:
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

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The views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Christchurch City Council.
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[Christchurch City Council logo]<https://ccc.govt.nz/>

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Kia ora,

 

I refer to your request for:

 

I wish to request all information, email communications, financials,
selection process/criteria and briefings (to councillors), minutes and
decisions (i.e. who made them) around the selection of OpShop to headline
the coming GoLive festival.

 

Specifically, I wish to request information showing at what stage officers
and councillors became aware of the concerning conspiracy theorist views
held by Jason Kerrison of OpShop and his very public statements and
actions relating to them.

 

Additionally I would request the risk assessments undertaken by officers
of council choosing to pay, platform and promote such views using public
funds and the implications and effects this may have on the community they
serve.

 

Council Response

The Council can confirm that it does not any information specific to your
request.

 

Artist selection is undertaken collectively by the Events Team, based on
musical suitability and alignment with the event’s objectives. Go Live
Festival lineups are curated to feature a mix of established national and
local artists, with an emphasis on Christchurch talent.

 

Opshop meet both criteria, having a well-established national fanbase
while also originating from Christchurch. Their recent resurgence on the
national live circuit, combined with their enduring popularity, made them
a strong choice to headline this ticketed event. To confirm, the Council
does not hold any information in relation to the issues you have raised in
your request, nor was it considered as part of this process.

 

Councillors are not involved in the selection of artists or performers for
events. They are provided with a memo from the Marketing-Communications
Unit outlining event content, including performers, shortly before the
public announcement of each event.

 

We have decided to refuse your request under the following section of the
LGOIMA - 17(g) – the information requested is not held by the local
authority

 

You have the right to request the Ombudsman to review this decision.
Complaints can be sent by email to [1][email address], by fax
to (04) 471 2254, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington
6143.

 

 

Ngâ mihi nui

 

Sean

 

Sean Rainey
Manager Official Information and Privacy Officer
Official Information Team

Te Ratonga Ture me te Manapori - Legal & Democratic Services

Christchurch City Council

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Mx Boyle <[2][FOI #34042 email]>

Sent: Wednesday, 11 March 2026 10:56 pm

To: Official Information <[3][email address]>

Subject: Official Information request - Information on selection of OpShop
to perform at GoLive festival

 

[You don't often get email from
[4][FOI #34042 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

 

Dear Christchurch City Council,

 

I wish to request all information, email communications, financials,
selection process/criteria and briefings (to councillors), minutes and
decisions (i.e. who made them) around the selection of OpShop to headline
the coming GoLive festival.

 

Specifically, I wish to request information showing at what stage officers
and councillors became aware of the concerning conspiracy theorist views
held by Jason Kerrison of OpShop and his very public statements and
actions relating to them.

 

Additionally I would request the risk assessments undertaken by officers
of council choosing to pay, platform and promote such views using public
funds and the implications and effects this may have on the community they
serve.

 

Yours faithfully,

Mx Boyle

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #34042 email]

 

Is [7][Christchurch City Council request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Christchurch City Council? If so, please contact
us using this form:

[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This electronic email and any files transmitted with it are intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
The views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and
may not necessarily reflect the views of the Christchurch City Council.
If you are not the correct recipient of this email please advise the
sender and delete the email.

[10]Christchurch City Council logo

References

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