Enquiries to Gavin Dawson:
24 October 2018
Mr T Benseman
fyi‐request‐8774‐[email address]
Dear Mr Benseman
REQ139183‐ Official information request on Waikato Regional Council correspondence
I refer to your official information request dated 28 September 2018 which states:
‘Official Information request ‐ Correspondence between Dame Margret Bazley and councillors/staff Dear
Waikato Regional Council, provide copies of all correspondence between Dame Margaret Bazley, Paula
Southgate, Vaughan Payne and other staff or councillors from 1.Jan 2015 to the end of 2016 and all
transcripts of all meetings held between the above named persons. This is an Official Information request
made via the FYI website’.
In my previous correspondence with you, I invited further clarification of your request. The request as it
presently stands would involve a substantial number of hours for research and collation, an estimated
minimum of 30 hours, which would have a significant and unreasonable impact on the Council’s ability to
carry out its other operations.
With reference to the scope of the original request, the Council would need to decline under section 17(f)
of the Local Government Official Information Meetings Act, due to the substantial amount of work that
would be required to research and collate the information you have requested.
From this point, you are most welcome to contact me to submit a new request with timeframes, locations,
and other factors that will narrow the scope of the original request. Please note that your current request
will now move to the status of resolved and closed.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me, should you be willing to change
or refine your request.
Yours Sincerely,
Gavin Dawson
Democracy Advisor
Waikato Regional Council
