Official Information Request - 16 March 2020

This is a follow-up response to Official Information Request - 13 January 2020

Sent: Friday, 8 May 2020 3:28 pm

Subject: LGOIMA - Code of Conduct - Reynold Macpherson - 13 January to 16 March 2020

I refer to your request of 16 March 2020 under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for:

All communications relating to Councillor Reynold Macpherson and the code of conduct from January 13 2020 (inclusive) to today (March 16 2020) and any other documents relating to Councillor Reynold Macpherson and the code of conduct from January 13 2020.

I also acknowledge that Council extended the response period until 8 May 2020.

Council has considered your request and has decided to withhold the information at this time. Council considers that, while the code of conduct complaint process is in progress, there is good reason to withhold the information pursuant to s 7(2)(c)(ii) "to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence, where the making available of the information would be likely otherwise to damage the public interest". Council considers that making the details of the investigation public while it is still in progress may lead to it being undermined, and may be prejudicial to the parties involved, which would damage the public interest in running a robust and fair process.

Council will review this decision at the conclusion of the complaint process.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Complaints can be sent by email to info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, by fax to (04) 471 2254, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests

Please note: Our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Rotorua Lakes Council website after they have been responded to, with requesters' personal details withheld. If you have any concerns about this please contact the Council on info@rotorualc.nz .

Regards