Does the Waikato District Council open its meetings with a prayer?
Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Waikato District Council
The request was successful.
From: Alex Harris
Dear Waikato 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
From: Alex Harris
Dear Waikato District Council,
A response to this request was due last week and it is now late. Will I be receiving a response anytime soon?
Yours faithfully,
Alex Harris
From: Adrian Bathgate
Waikato District Council
Hi Alex, apologies for the delay in responding to your query.
No, the council does not open its meetings with a prayer.
Regards
Adrian
-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #180 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 24 April 2012 3:51 p.m.
To: Public Enquiries
Subject: Local Government Official Information and Meetings request: Does
the Waikato District Council open its meetings with a prayer?
šššš Dear Waikato District Council,
šššš
šššššAs you may have read recently, the Whanganui District Council
šššš abolished its opening prayer after a complaint was made to the
šššš Human Rights Commission. I'm interested in learning how widespread
šššš this practice is, so I'd like to request the following information
šššš under the LGOIMA:
šššš
ššššš* Does the Council open its meetings with a prayer? * If the answer
šššš to the above is "yes", then I'd like a copy of that prayer (or
šššš examples, if more than one is used), when the practice was first
šššš established, whether the council has considered abolishing it in
šššš the wake of the Whanganui decision, and any advice the council may
šššš hold on the prayer's compatibility with both the Human Rights Act
šššš 1993 and Bill of Rights Act 1990.
šššš
šššššI would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about
šššš this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the
šššš fyi.org.nz website.
šššš
šššššYours faithfully,
šššš
šššššAlex Harris
šššš
Adrian Bathgate
Communications Advisor (Contractor)
Waikato District Council
■ P 07 824 8633 ■ F 07 824 8091 ■ Call Free 0800 492 452
Private Bag 544, Ngaruawahia 3742
[1]www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz
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References
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1. Waikato District Council Web Site
http://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/
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