Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/does_the_greater_wellington_regi on November 04, 2025 14:58

Does the Greater Wellington Regional Council open its meetings with a prayer?

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Wellington Regional Council

The request was successful.

From: Alex Harris

Dear Wellington Regional Council,

As you may have read recently, the Whanganui District Council abolished its opening prayer after a complaint was made to the Human Rights Commission. I'm interested in learning how widespread this practice is, so I'd like to request the following information under the LGOIMA:

* Does the Council open its meetings with a prayer?
* If the answer to the above is "yes", then I'd like a copy of that prayer (or examples, if more than one is used), when the practice was first established, whether the council has considered abolishing it in the wake of the Whanganui decision, and any advice the council may hold on the prayer's compatibility with both the Human Rights Act 1993 and Bill of Rights Act 1990.

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the fyi.org.nz website.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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From: Emily Gilmore
Wellington Regional Council

 
Dear Alex
Acknowledgement of Request for Information under the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
 
Thank you for your email dated 3rd May 2012 requesting information
regarding the role of prayer at Greater Wellington Regional Council
meetings.
 
Your request is being followed-up and a reply will be sent to you shortly.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Emily Gilmore
 
 
for
Leigh-Anne Buxton
General Manager
People and Capability
 
 

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From: Natasha Muir
Wellington Regional Council

Attachment GW response letter OIA 2012 046.pdf
284K Download View as HTML

 
Dear Alex
 
Thank you for your request for information, dated 3 May 2012, regarding
the role of prayer at Greater Wellington Regional Council meetings.
 
Please find attached information regarding your request.
 
 
 
Kind regards
 
Natasha Muir | Executive Secretary, People & Capability
GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL
On behalf of
Leigh-Anne Buxton | General Manager, People & Capability
GREATER WELLINGTON REGIONAL COUNCIL
Te Pane Matua Taiao
142 Wakefield St | PO Box 11646, Manners St, Wellington 6142
T: 04 830 4133 | M: 021 448 029
[1]www.gw.govt.nz | [2]www.metlink.org.nz
 
 
 
 
 
 

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