QLDC emails hidden as investigation continues

Analysis

The Queenstown Lakes District Council is attempting to delay the release of official information emails by one month, a date that coincides with the end of an openness and transparency investigation by the Office of the Chief Ombudsman.

On October 25, QLDC partially released emails that Crux has been waiting two years to see. The council said that the remaining emails would not be released until November 25 as they needed “additional time” to “gain approvals”.

The emails relate to how the QLDC communications team and chief executive Mike Theelen have handled Crux enquiries about financial mismanagement at the council.

Crux has today lodged a formal complaint with the Ombudsman regarding what we see as the totally unjustified one-month additional delay. Previous QLDC delays have been the result of the council conducting only a limited search of email subject lines and ignoring the actual email content.

The Ombudsman launched an investigation on September 12 into openness and transparency at the QLDC, as well as two other local councils together with Auckland Transport and Wellington Water, both Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs).

Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says the investigations into the two CCOs and three councils are part of a regular programme of looking at Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) practice and compliance at local authorities.

Mr Boshier says he’ll also be conducting surveys of staff at each organisation and members of the public as part of this work.

“As with all of my investigations, I will be looking for examples of good practice and areas that can be improved, including whether the leadership of each organisation has established a culture of openness, and whether staff responsible for responding to official information requests have been given the right training and guidance.

“I will also look at their meeting practices including any informal meetings and workshops where I feel they are relevant.”

The Ombudsman is asking that all QLDC district residents who have had dealings with the council in terms of information requests, submissions, or council meetings or workshops to take part in the survey.