Sent: Friday, 25 August 2017 11:30 a.m.
Subject: TRIM: LGOIMA request
I refer to your email of 1 August requesting copies on any communications following your visit to the Council, and information on the Mayor's recent trip to South Korea and the purchase of mud from South Korea.
- Records of communications (including email correspondence) relating to our media advisory, visit, award, presentation, media release and subsequent media attentionThere is no email correspondence.
- Council posts all media inquiries and responses sent on its website and there is a page dedicated to all Mudtopia inquiries. This is the link: http://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/media%20inquiries/Questions%20and%20Responses/Pages/Mudtopia-Festival.aspx
- Details of the recent trip to South Korea by a delegation led by the MayorHer Worship the Mayor was accompanied by Councillor and Cultural Ambassador Trevor Maxwell to South Korea. All flights, accommodation, meals and entertainment for both Her Worship and Cr Maxwell was hosted/paid by Korea. Her Worship took gifts to the value of $450 and incurred miscellaneous expenses (taxi fares etc) of $215. The following documents relating to the Korea trip are attached:
- Report to Council for approval to travel to China before the Korea component of the trip
- Mayor and Elected Representatives International Travel Policy
- Sister City Relationship Policy
- Korea Itinerary
- Costs associated with the mud (including transportation and bio screening);Rotorua Lakes Council is no longer purchasing mud from South Korea
- Documents held which relate to the value and necessity of the Korean mudAttached is the Partnership Agreement between Rotorua Lakes Council, Boryeong City (Boryeong Mud Festival Foundation) and IFEA Korea
- Correspondence and agreements with MBIE relating to the mud festival grant Attached are copies of email correspondence between RLC and MBIE, in chronological order from most recent to oldest. Redactions have been made to information out of scope of the request, and to information under the following sections of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act:
- section 7(2)(a) 'protect the privacy of natural persons '
- section 7(2)(f)(ii) 'the protection of such members, officers, employees, and persons from improper pressure or harassment'
Also attached is the Mud Investment Agreement between RLC and MBIE. Schedule 1 (Details) and Appendix 1 (Event Budget) have been redacted under the following sections of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act:
- section 7(2)(h) 'enable any local authority holding the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities'
- section 7(2)(i) 'enable any local authority holding the information to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations'
We are obliged to advise that you may contact the Ombudsman at the address below if you have any concerns with the response provided by Council, by writing to:
The Office of the Ombudsman
PO Box 10 152
WELLINGTON 6143
Alternatively, you may email info@ombudsman.parliament.nz or use the online complaints form available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-a-complaint.
Regards
