Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/does_the_opotiki_district_counci on April 20, 2024 19:33

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

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Opotiki District Council

The request was successful.

From: Alex Harris

Dear Opotiki 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: Aileen Lawrie
Opotiki District Council

Hi

Opotiki DC does start with a short prayer and has done so as long as
anyone can remember.  Sometimes it is in maori (karakia) as part of the
culture of our district.  The actual words are not recorded, it varies
depending which councillor. It is done by rotation. There has been no
suggestion of reviewing the practice.

 

Aileen Lawrie

Chief Executive - Opotiki District Council
Telephone 07 315 3030 | Fax 07 315 7050 | Cell 021 819 342 |

 

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From: Sue Watson
Sent: Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:57 p.m.
To: Kathryn Julian; Aileen Lawrie
Subject: FW: Local Government Official Information and Meetings request:
Does the Opotiki District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

 

For your action and response thanks.

 

Sue Watson

Finance & Corporate Services Supervisor

Opotiki District Council

108 St John Street

PO Box 44

Opotiki 3162

Ph: 07 315-3030

Fax:  07 315-7050

Emai:  [email address]

Web:  www.odc.govt.nz

 

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