Printed from https://fyi.org.nz./request/does_the_waipa_district_council on November 16, 2024 07:23

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

Alex Harris made this Official Information request to Waipa District Council

The request was successful.

From: Alex Harris

Dear Waipa 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: Cathie Shaw
Waipa District Council

Attachment Council Prayer.pdf.pdf
91K Download View as HTML

Hello Mr Harris
 
Thank you for your enquiry.  Waipa District Council does indeed open its
meeting with a Prayer and also closes its meeting with a Prayer.  They
have done this from their formation in 1989.  There have been requests by
some members in the past to have this practice abolished but the vote has
always been to retain the Prayer.  The item has not been discussed since
the Whanganui decision.  I have no advice regarding the prayer's
compatibility with the Human Rights Act 1993 or the Bill of Rights Act
1990.
 
A copy of the Prayers used are attached.
 
Kind regards
 
Cathie Shaw
 

.....................................................................................................
Cathie Shaw Governance Support Senior WAIPA DISTRICT COUNCIL
[1][email address] | [2]www.waipadc.govt.nz
DDI: 07 872 0072| MOB: 0274 426 113| FAX: 07 872 0033

 

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