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

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Hastings District Council

The request was partially successful.

From: Alex Harris

Dear Hastings 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 Hastings District Council,

This LGOIMA request was due on 2 May and is now late. Will I be getting a response soon?

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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From: Vicki Rusbatch
Hastings District Council

Dear Alex

In answer to your question, the monthly ordinary meetings of the Hastings District Council commence with a prayer.

Regards

 
VICKI RUSBATCH
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
 
Phone 06 871 5072  
Email [email address]  Web hastingsdc.govt.nz
Hastings District Council, Private Bag 9002, Hastings 4156, New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #127 email]]
Sent: Sunday, 6 May 2012 10:35 p.m.
To: Inwards_Correspondence
Subject: Re: Official Information Act request - Does the Hastings District Council open its meetings with a prayer?

Dear Hastings District Council,

This LGOIMA request was due on 2 May and is now late. Will I be
getting a response soon?

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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