LGOIMA Requests

Date received: 27/07/2026

Requested information: School Bus Responsibility - A request for information on which organisation is responsible for school bus routes in the Manawatū area, including their roles, responsibilities, and relevant legislation.

Status: Transferred

Date received: 23/07/2026

Requested information: Please advise the plans for the ongoing maintenance of Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park and provide a copy of the April 2026 accounts.

Status: With Subject Matter Expert

Date received: 22/07/2026

Requested information: Playground Timber Safety - A request for detailed information and evidence regarding the safety, structural integrity, and compliance of playground timber at Kowhai Park and confirmation that the playground remains safe for public use.

Status: With Subject Matter Expert

Date received: 14/07/2026

Requested information: Information about the management and administration of the Feilding Civic Centre discussions and minutes of meetings

Status: With Subject Matter Expert

Date received: 13/07/2026

Requested information: Playground Surfacing Request - A request for the number of council-managed playgrounds and a summary of playground surfacing areas by surface type.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 20/07/2026

Response:

Note:

-          Measured areas are close approximates from MDC aerial mapping.  

-          Measured areas do not include paths, lawns, adjacent picnic area or seats, and gardens within the playground area.

Date received: 13/07/2026

Requested information: Any information Council may have on record in regard to stormwater/run-off complaints for Suffolk Crescent

Status: Complete

Date responded: 17/07/2026

Response:

I refer to your Local Government Official Information Act 1987 (LGOIMA) request dated 13 July 2026 regarding any and all information held by Manawatū District Council relating to stormwater and/or stormwater run-off at 6 Suffolk Crescent, Feilding.

Further to our recent discussion clarifying the scope of your request, Council has undertaken a search of its records and identified the information relevant to your request.

Please find attached the following documentation:

• A summary of Council's records relating to stormwater and runoff matters associated with 6 Suffolk Crescent, including the complaints received by Council and the actions taken.
• Relevant email correspondence.
• Inspection photographs.
• File notes.
• Other relevant documents held by Council relating to the investigation of the reported stormwater and runoff matters.

Where appropriate, personal information has been redacted in accordance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to protect the privacy of third parties under section 7(2)(a).

You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this decision by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. or freephone 0800 802 602.

Manawatū District Council may publish this response along with a summary of the request on our website.   Requests and responses may be paraphrased.    

To protect your privacy, we will not generally publish personal information about you, or information that identifies you.   

If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact the LGOIMA Response Team on 06 323 0000 or by replying to this email.  

Date received: 30/06/2026

Requested information: Playground Timber Concerns - Request for information on the condition, inspection history, and safety of playground timber, including concerns about borer, rot, and structural integrity. It also seeks details on the council's awareness of the issues, supplier disclosure, and any inspections or independent assessments undertaken.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 13/07/2026

Response:

Official Information Request – Request for information on the condition, inspection history, and safety of the playground timber, including concerns about borer, rot and structural integrity.

I refer to your official information request dated 30 June 2026.

Council has undertaken reasonable searches of its records to respond to your request. The Kowhai Park play tower was supplied and installed by Playground Centre Ltd in 2021. Some staff involved in the original procurement and installation are no longer employed by Council and, where information is not recorded in Council’s records, it cannot now be confirmed. Where Council states that no information is held or that a matter cannot be confirmed, this reflects the outcome of searches of Council’s records.

1. When did Manawatū District Council first become aware that the Kowhai Park playground timber contained visible borer holes or evidence of insect damage?
Council has identified no records confirming when this was first observed. The current Community Parks and Property Officer became aware of visible borer holes shortly after commencing employment in 2023.

2. Was this issue disclosed by Playground Centre before the timber was installed, or was it discovered later by Council staff, Council’s inspection contractor, or a member of the public?
Council holds no records indicating whether this was disclosed before installation or identified after installation.

3. If Playground Centre knew the borer holes were present when the timber was imported, when was that information first disclosed to Manawatū District Council?
Council holds no recorded information confirming this.

4. Was Council advised at the time of supply or installation that the imported timber contained visible borer holes?
Council holds no recorded information confirming this.

5. What evidence has Council received from the supplier regarding the condition of the timber?
Council has received emails and technical information from Playground Centre dated 21 March 2025 and 1 May 2025 regarding the condition of the timber. These documents are included with this response.

6. Has Council received a written timber condition report from someone independent of the supplier?
No.

7. Has any intrusive or below-surface inspection been undertaken where the affected structural posts enter the safety surfacing, or is Council relying only on visual inspection above finished surface level?
Council’s Open Space Contractor undertakes fortnightly visual inspections, including basic below-surface inspections, and is aware of the visible borer holes and timber appearance. No intrusive inspection has been undertaken. Council has continued its routine inspection programme and has taken into account information provided by the supplier following its inspection on 21 March 2025.

8. What QA documentation was provided for the imported timber before it was installed?
Council’s records include documentation provided by Playground Centre comprising: a Compliance Certificate, warranty information, a Maintenance and Inspection Manual, final production plans, and email correspondence dated 30 October 2020.

9. Given that some timber handrails have already required replacement after the outer timber layer failed, has Council sought a wider review of the timber components across the whole playground?
Playground Centre undertook a site inspection on 21 March 2025 following concerns raised by Council. That inspection recommended replacement of the affected handrails, which were subsequently addressed. Council’s Open Space Contractor continues to undertake fortnightly inspections of the playground and reports any maintenance issues identified.

Manawatū District Council may publish this response, together with a summary of your request, on its website. Requests and responses may be paraphrased. To protect your privacy, Council will not generally publish personal information that identifies you.

If you wish to discuss this response, please contact the LGOIMA Response Team on 06 323 0000 or by replying to this email.


Yours sincerely,

Date received: 24/06/2026

Requested information: Questions about various aspects of the Annual Plan - Various questions regarding the annual plan and additionally, a request for a high-resolution image of the council or Feilding for use in a local newspaper.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 29/06/2026

Response:

1. Does the annual plan feature new or increased borrowing? If so, is this borrowing for operational expenses, capital expenses, or other?  The Annual Plan contains a net increase in debt of $13,830,000 to fund capital projects
2. Will a greater share of council internal staff and administrative costs be recovered through user-pays regulatory fees (such as building consents and licensing)?  There are no changes to how regulatory activities are funded in this Annual Plan
3. Does the annual plan include assumptions about future population growth in places such as Maewa in order to spread the district's debt and operating costs over a greater number of ratepayers? What is the council's plan should growth not meet these assumptions?  The Annual Plan contains growth assumptions as outlined in the 2024-34 Long Term Plan. These assumptions will be revisited in the 2027-37 Long Term Plan
4. Has any rate revenue or funding been allocated to Resilience and Insurance Reserves? If no additional revenue has been allocated, why is this? What would the course of action (liquidity plan) be if Resilience and Insurance Reserves were needed urgently?  The Annual Plan contains no rates funding for Resilience and Insurance reserves. Council can use existing reserves or borrowing facilities in the event of an emergency.
5. Does the updated Development and Financial Contributions Policy accurately reflect the actual cost of installing infrastructure at Maewa, or are existing ratepayers subsidizing the growth of new housing?  Development Contributions are used to recover the cost of all growth works.
6. How are increases in the cost of raw materials (e.g., bitumen for roads and plastics for pipes) managed within the current financial strategy, and where are service levels being adjusted to account for these hikes?  Council will manage cost fluctuations within existing budgets. Decisions on adjusting levels of service to remain within budget will be made as required.

Date received: 19/06/2026

Requested information: El Nino Preparation - Questions about how the council is proactively preparing for El Niño, especially in Himatangi.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 09/07/2026

Response:

Date received: 12/06/2026

Requested information: Disaster Spending Request - A request for detailed information on actual spending by the council over the past 20 years (2006–2025) related to recovery from weather-related natural disasters and resilience-building efforts, including costs, government funding received to avoid double counting, and any supporting briefings or reports.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 13/07/2026

Response: