iSAYSO
News Letter From Tracy for August 9th
This week has been a busy week of public review, OIA/LGOIMA follow-up, document preparation and issue tracking.
– Public review notices
Work continued on public review notices for Waitaki District Council, Rangitikei District Council and the Firearms Crown Review. The notices were refined so they are easier for the public to understand and use. The focus is on inviting people to come forward with information, records, experiences or documents that may assist the public review process.
– Waitaki District Council public review
Several Waitaki District Council information releases and OIA/LGOIMA responses were reviewed, filed and summarised.
Key areas worked on included:
– Council structure, staffing and senior leadership information.
– Cell tower / telecommunications response material.
– Contractor operating-cost information for the 2024/2025 financial year.
– Public LGOIMA release themes including governance, staffing, transformation, AI/software, public services, consenting, compliance and accountability.
– Oamaru parking meter LGOIMA correspondence and fee/charge issues.
The contractor information was especially significant, showing a listed total of $19,427,947.82 across 125 activity areas and 184 non-zero line items. This has been kept for further review and follow-up.
– Oamaru parking meters
Further work was done on Waitaki District Council’s OIA/LGOIMA handling around Oamaru parking meters. This included reviewing the Council’s fee position, narrowing the request focus, and preserving the key issue: what records exist about authority, decision-making, contracts, supplier arrangements, data/privacy and consultation.
– Council use of AI tools
A LGOIMA request was sent regarding Council use of AI tools. This is part of the wider accountability work around how public bodies are using software, automation, decision-support systems and external technology providers.
– Rotorua pensioner housing / Lucas Place
Neil Evans’ emails about Lucas Place pensioner housing in Rotorua were reviewed.
The working synopsis covered:
– Rent increases affecting pensioner tenants.
– Neil’s stated financial shortfall after rent and Accommodation Supplement changes.
– Rotorua Lakes Council / Rotorua District Council assurances about tenants not being left out of pocket.
– Relocation pressure and Emerge Aotearoa involvement.
– Healthy Homes, mould, water ingress and maintenance concerns.
– Tenancy Tribunal application `5511150`, with hearing listed for 9 September 2026.
– OIA/LGOIMA and Ombudsman-style material already prepared.
– The unresolved LINZ/title-document angle, including the need to locate the exact document Tracy paid for.
– OIA responses and agency correspondence
During the week a number of OIA acknowledgements, clarifications, extensions and responses came through from agencies including Health, Justice, MBIE, MSD and other government offices.
– What we learned
This week reinforced a few important points:
- OIAs to the the Police and Justice Depts are producing evidence that we are able to use in future.
- We are learning to keep OIA/LGOIMA requests narrow enough to avoid avoidable fee barriers.
- Track every reference number, date and response deadline.
- Separate confirmed records ,from allegations or concerns we deal in facts only.
- Preserve public-facing summaries in plain language so people can understand why each issue matters.
- Keep supporting documents, emails, PDFs, spreadsheets and screenshots together so they can be used later in reviews, complaints, Tribunal preparation or follow-up requests.
- Continue filing new OIA/LGOIMA responses into the correct review folders.
- Prepare follow-up questions where agencies have not fully answered.
- Capitalize on the increase in website interest with appropriate content being added to the Notice board and the video library.
- We Encourage members to take a little time regularly to share the information we have collected, with family and friends , they are starting to understand us, and are quietly listening. The website is designed for you to share from easily.