Dear Mr Preston,

Thank you for your email below. We will be back in touch once we have assessed the matters you have raised.

Kind regards,
Shelley

Shelley Dobson

Personal Assistant, Legal
Office of the Auditor-General Te Mana Arotake
100 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
PO Box 3928, Wellington 6140
Ph: +64 21 244 0602
www.oag.govt.nz

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Dear Mr Preston

Thank you for your information request.

You asked for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA) or the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the LGOIMA) that our office might hold about Auckland Council's compliance with the Public Records Act 2005.

Because the Auditor-General is an independent officer of Parliament, neither the OIA nor the LGOIMA apply to us. Instead, the Public Audit Act 2001 gives us discretion as to what information we release.

As your request relates to Auckland Council, we suggest you contact Auckland Council directly for the information.

Our primary role in relation to Auckland Council is the audit of its annual financial statements and performance information. As part of completing this audit we consider the strength of Council’s management control environment, which includes consideration of their systems to monitor compliance with legislative obligations such as the Public Records Act. While compliance is the responsibility of the Council, if you were able to provide further details of your concerns this would assist us when we form our views on the Council’s overall management control environment of the Council.

You asked whether it is within the powers of the Auditor-General to advocate that Auckland Council complies with the Public Records Act 2005. The answer to that is no. It may be helpful for you to note that the Public Records Act 2005 is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Markley
Sector Manager, Auckland and Northland

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