Does the Wairoa District Council open its meetings with a prayer?
Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Wairoa District Council
The request was successful.
From: Alex Harris
Dear Wairoa 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: James Baty
Wairoa District Council
Hi Alex,
Responses below:
Q: Does the Council open its meetings with a prayer?
A: Yes
Q: 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).
A: Copy attached.
Q: When the practice was first established?
A: We are not sure exactly when this practice was first started, but we can say that it has certainly been in place certainly for over 2 decades. I could have our Archivist investigate further if you require, please advise.
Q: 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.
A: Council is not considering abolishing this practice. We hold no advice on the prayer's compatibility with both the Human Rights Act 1993 and Bill of Rights Act 1990. Moreover we have never received any complaints about this practice.
Regards,
James
James Baty
Administration Manager
P: +64 6 838 7309
F: +64 6 838 8874
M: +64 27 3929029
PO Box 54 | WAIROA 4160
www.wairoadc.govt.nz
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Anthony Jordan left an annotation ()
Great work to fulfilling such a request. And may such a protocol continue for decades to come
Mauri ora e hoa ma
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