Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/does_the_new_plymouth_district_c on April 27, 2024 03:52

Does the New Plymouth District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to New Plymouth District Council

The request was successful.

From: Alex Harris

Dear New Plymouth 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: Enquiries
New Plymouth District Council

Good morning Alex,

Thank you for the email. I have forwarded it through to the officer who is the secretary to the Council whom I'm sure will be able to respond to you as soon as she is able to.

Regards,

Margaret Greig
Customer Support Officer

New Plymouth District Council
Liardet St
Private Bag 2025
New Plymouth 4342

Ph 06-759 6060

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From: FYI Requests

Dear Sir/Madam

New Plymouth District Council opens meetings of the full Council with a
Karakia.  This has been the practice since the end of 2001.

Regards

Julie Straka
Committee Adviser / International Relations Coordinator

New Plymouth District Council | Liardet St | Private Bag 2025 | New
Plymouth 4342
Ph 06-759 6060 |  Direct dial 06-759 5688
[1]www.newplymouthnz.com | Facebook | Twitter

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From: Alex Harris

Dear FYI Requests,

Thanks for your response, but it was incomplete. You have failed to provide a copy of the prayer / Karakia, whether the Council has 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.

Please respond fully to my request, as required by law. If the latter information does not exist, then a simple statement saying so is obviously sufficient.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris

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From: FYI Requests

Dear Sir/Madam

 

The karakia varies at each meeting.   The other information you requested
does not exist.

 

Regards

 

Julie Straka

Committee Adviser / International Relations Coordinator

 

New Plymouth District Council | Liardet St | Private Bag 2025 | New
Plymouth 4342
Ph 06-759 6060 |  Direct dial 06-759 5688

[1]www.newplymouthnz.com | [2]Facebook | [3]Twitter

 

From: FYI Requests [mailto:[4][FYI contact email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 April 2012 12:20 PM
To: STRAKA, Julie
Subject: Re: Local Government Official Information and Meetings request:
Does the New Plymouth District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

 

Dear Julie Straka,

Thanks for your response, but it was incomplete. You have failed to
provide a copy of the prayer / Karakia, whether the Council has 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.

Please respond fully to my request, as required by law. If the
latter information does not exist, then a simple statement saying
so is obviously sufficient.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris
   

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From: Alex Harris

Dear FYI Requests,

Thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Harris

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
New Plymouth District Council only: