Dear Wairoa District Council,

I am making a request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

I refer to recent public reporting where the Mayor of Wairoa described aspects of emergency preparedness or response in relation to Cyclone Vaianu as "woke."

I request the following information:

- Any definition, explanation, criteria, or understanding used by the Mayor and/or Council to interpret or apply the term "woke" in the context of emergency management, civil defence, or disaster response.

- All information (including briefings, emails, texts, aide-memoires, notes, or other communications) that informed, influenced, or relate to the Mayor's use of the term "woke" in connection with decisions about declaring, or not declaring, a state of emergency.

- Any Council policies, frameworks, guidance, or decision-making criteria in which the term "woke" is referenced, or which were considered relevant to the Mayor's comments.

- Any internal communications discussing:
(a) the meaning or interpretation of "woke" in this context; and/or
(b) the appropriateness or implications of using that term in relation to emergency management decisions.

- Confirmation of whether the Mayor's comments reflect an official Council position. If not, please provide any information held that distinguishes the Mayor's personal views from formal Council policy in this instance.

For the avoidance of doubt, this request includes information held in any format, including informal communications, and is not limited to finalised documents.

If any part of this request is considered to engage section 7(2)(f)(i) (free and frank expression of opinions), I request that you consider whether the public interest in transparency around decision-making in emergency management outweighs the need to withhold.

Similarly, if section 7(2)(f)(ii) (confidentiality of advice) is considered, please assess whether there is a countervailing public interest in understanding how language used by elected officials may have influenced, or reflects, decisions affecting public safety.

If any information is withheld, please provide the specific grounds relied upon under the Act, along with reasons, and release any reasonably segregable information.

I am happy to refine the scope if required to assist with processing.

Yours faithfully,

Naomi Priestly