Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/does_the_masterton_district_coun?unfold=1 on April 24, 2024 22:36

Does the Masterton District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Masterton District Council

The request was partially successful.

From: Alex Harris

Dear Masterton District 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: Alex Harris

Dear Masterton District Council,

A response to this request was due over a week ago and it is now late. Will I be receiving a response anytime soon?

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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From: Alex Harris

Dear Masterton District Council,

A complaint for effective refusal has now been lodged with the Ombudsman.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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From: Ruth Cox
Masterton District Council

Good morning Alex

Apologies for the delay in answering this query, we thought this request had been answered some time ago.

The Masterton District Council does not open its formal Council meetings with a prayer.

At some task group meetings that are culturally sensitive the meeting is opened and closed with a prayer. Also on occasions when messages have been considered by the Council a prayer has been part of the process.

Ruth Cox
Office Supervisor
Masterton District Council
Phone (06) 370 6300 ext 704
DDI (06) 370 6304
email: [email address]

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #150 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 26 June 2012 4:05 p.m.
To: Ruth Cox
Subject: Re: Official Information Act request - Does the Masterton District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

Dear Masterton District Council,

A complaint for effective refusal has now been lodged with the
Ombudsman.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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