LGOIMA Requests
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Search results: 615
| Received | Subject | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/08/2025 | Details of staffing for all departments and current debt levels | Complete | Details |
| 11/08/2025 | Information about the status of a drain on Denbigh Street | Complete | Details |
| 08/08/2025 | Number of ratepayers within MDC district | Complete | Details |
| 14/07/2025 | Details of construction projects over $10M completed in the last 5 years | Complete | Details |
| 02/07/2025 | Consultancy fee expenditure paid by Manawatū District Council and project outcomes for each of the last five financial years (FY2019/20 and FY 2023/24) | Complete | Details |
| 01/07/2025 | What advice has the Council had and costs and impacts on local roads associated with the increased weight of electric and EV buses in regard to government mandates for full fleet electrification. | Complete | Details |
| 25/06/2025 | Information around policies for the use of generative AI within Council | Complete | Details |
| 23/06/2025 | Details about Manfield Park and the establishment of the Manfield Trust | Complete | Details |
| 19/06/2025 | A list of all construction related projects approved, commissioned, or completed by MDC between 1 January 2020 and 1 July 2025, with a total cost under $500,000. | Complete | Details |
| 08/06/2025 | Information about campground lease costs | Complete | Details |
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2371
Date received: 11/08/2025
Requested information: Details of staffing for all departments and current debt levels
Status: Complete
Response:
The information you have requested is below;
Preferred Contractors
We have no preferred suppliers/contractors, however we do have approved contractors for water reticulation/connections who can tender for work. The tender process is a private matter between the developer and the contractor(s). The ‘preferred contractor’ has not been in place since before 2011.
The Full Time Employee staffing per department
Chief Executive Community | 2 28.22 |
Finance | 8.76 |
Infrastructure | 53.57 |
Library | 13.15 |
Makino Aquatic Centre | 8.91 |
People and Corporate | 42.06 |
Current debt level
Total external loans for 2024-25: $104.3M
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2376
Date received: 11/08/2025
Requested information: Information about the status of a drain on Denbigh Street
Status: Complete
Response:
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2370
Date received: 08/08/2025
Requested information: Number of ratepayers within MDC district
Status: Complete
Response:
Further to your information request, the details are contained in this link - LG_2370_Documents_to_release.zip
The link will expire after 7 days so remember to save any documents you wish to have continued access to. We recommend that this link is opened on a PC.
These figures have been compiled by locality and provides a count of all property rated by the Manawatū District Council for each locality. The locality data was provided by Land Information (LINZ) as part of the national Suburbs and Localities data set. This data reflects the most accurate information we can provide at this time.
Attachments:
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2367
Date received: 14/07/2025
Requested information: Details of construction projects over $10M completed in the last 5 years
Status: Complete
Response:
In the last 5 years, we have had only one project with a value exceeding $10 million. The details are as follows:
The approved total budget was $12.5 million, which included the contract build, professional services, and contingency. The project was completed within budget.
| Client Name | Manawatū District Council |
| Contract / Project Name | Feilding Public Library – Strengthening and Modernisation (SAM) Project |
| Name of Design Consultants | Architecture + (note A+ subcontracted work to other specialists as required but MDC worked with A+). |
| Design Spend | $1,206,067.16
|
| Name of Contractor | Alexander Construction Central Ltd |
| Contract Type | NZ3910:2013 |
| Initial Contract Price | $8,624,777.76 |
| Final Contract Price | $10,222,695.82 |
| Contract Start Date | 26 August 2022 |
| Due Date for Completion | 18 April 2024 |
| Date of Practical Completion | 22 July 2024 |
| Scope overview statement | The project will include the required strengthening, modernising and extension of the existing library building. The modernising of the building includes both the interior and exterior. The new layout of the building will include the capability to be a multi-purpose facility that can cater for a wider range of activities that complement the library functions. The project will also investigate the potential of introducing environmentally sustainable building improvements. The project will also manage the temporary relocation of library staff and library services to maintain functions. |
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2365
Date received: 02/07/2025
Requested information: Consultancy fee expenditure paid by Manawatū District Council and project outcomes for each of the last five financial years (FY2019/20 and FY 2023/24)
Status: Complete
Response:
Attachments:
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2366
Date received: 01/07/2025
Requested information: What advice has the Council had and costs and impacts on local roads associated with the increased weight of electric and EV buses in regard to government mandates for full fleet electrification.
Status: Complete
Response:
To date, no formal advice has been provided to Council regarding any actual costs incurred or impacts resulting from the operation of electric buses on the network. However, this is expected to become a relevant issue next year, with the Regional Council set to introduce an updated fleet and enhanced services in the Feilding area.
Current advice suggests that the vehicle intended for use on the Feilding network will be a smaller, lighter model, which may mitigate some of the anticipated impacts.
As further details about the EV bus specifications become available, we anticipate the need to brief Council on potential implications.
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2364
Date received: 25/06/2025
Requested information: Information around policies for the use of generative AI within Council
Status: Complete
Response:
NOTE: AI was used in Writing a response to this LGOIMA request.
Manawatū District Council – Use of AI
Manawatū District Council (MDC) sees artificial intelligence (AI) as a valuable tool that helps our staff work smarter and achieve more in their daily roles.
Approximately 70% of MDC staff have completed foundational AI training through an external provider. This training includes a strong focus on responsible AI use, data security, and risk awareness (refer to the attached MDC AI Guidelines).
At the individual level, around 15% of our staff currently have access to “ChatGPT Teams” licences. This version of ChatGPT ensures that MDC data is protected and excluded from OpenAI’s model training. Staff typically use AI for a range of tasks, such as:
Writing & Editing: Drafting reports, strategies, emails, and social media content — with support in refining tone and tailoring language for different audiences.
Meeting Summaries: Creating instant summaries and action points from transcripts or recordings.
Data Analysis: Turning complex or messy spreadsheets into clear, actionable insights.
Research Assistant: Providing fast, sourced responses to a wide variety of questions.
Technical Assistance: Supporting tasks such as code debugging or clarifying complex documentation.
Creative Brainstorming: Generating names, slogans, or early-stage ideas.
Training & Guidance: Simplifying laws, policies, processes, and technologies for easier understanding.
Document Processing: Using OCR to extract data from PDFs, images, or handwritten notes.
Market Research: Writing job descriptions based on analysis of platforms like Seek.co.nz.
Productivity Integration: Integrating with tools like Outlook or Teams to check calendars, propose meetings, and even book appointments with external stakeholders.
AI in Business Systems
We are also seeing AI become increasingly embedded in our business systems, especially through partnerships with major vendors. For example, Microsoft Copilot introduces AI directly into familiar platforms to automate routine tasks.
We are currently exploring or planning several proof-of-concept initiatives that include:
AI Phone Operators: Virtual phone agents that are indistinguishable from human operators.
Workflow Automation: Using AI to streamline repetitive processes and improve efficiency.
Conversational Virtual Assistants: Generative AI chatbots for our website that can respond to public questions using up-to-date Council information.
Smart Service Resolution: Analysing past service requests to suggest resolutions or return relevant knowledge base articles.
Automated Metadata Tagging: Using AI to classify and tag Council documents, improving searchability and public access.
MDC is committed to using AI in a way that increases transparency, enhances service delivery, and maintains our responsibilities as a trusted data custodian.
Manawatū District Council publishes responses to Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). We will publish the LGIOIMA 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.
Yours sincerely,
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2363
Date received: 23/06/2025
Requested information: Details about Manfield Park and the establishment of the Manfield Trust
Status: Complete
Response:
Please find below the information you have requested, the documents are included in this link - LG_2363_Documents.zip ;
Q1. A breakdown of how and when each party acquired their respective portions of the land prior to the establishment of the Manfeild Park Trust in 2004.
The requester informed Council on Monday 21st July they no longer request the Title information from Council due to the cost of Titles and will investigate the Title information themselves.
The land Council sold to the Manfield Park Trust had been purchased from the Jockey Club in 1999. Further information is detailed in the next answers.
Q2. Copies of relevant land title deeds, purchase agreements, Crown transfers, or acquisition records.
Titles:
Title Records not attached due to the decision from the requester to purchase/source these elsewhere.
The current Title references and Legal Descriptions for Manfield Park can be found by visiting Council's website and selecting 'property map' then navigating to the property of interest: Maps & Open Data | Manawatū District Council
The Titles Council had originally sought to answer Q1 included historical Titles that are no longer current. You can find previous Title information denoted on a current Record of Title, and in some instances will need to go back several iterations of Title and ensure you have capabilities to search cancelled Titles. A solicitor can also find this information for you.
Purchase Agreements:
Agreement of sale of assets to Manfield Park Trust 2004 - attached.
Agreement of sale and purchase of Manawatu District Council from Feilding Jockey Club 1999 - attached.
There are no Crown Transfers associated with the land between Manawatu District Council and Manfield Park Trust at Manfield Park.
Q3. Any use of the Public Works Act or Crown land allocations in relation to this land.
None of the Records of Title previously owned by Council reference any kind of acquisition made using the Public Works Act or via Crown Transfer as Council purchased the property from the Feilding Jockey Club in what appears to be a Bonafide market transaction. This allows Council to resolve to sell the property at its discretion with no PWA obligations.
Q4. Details of any consultation processes that took place with Ngāti Kauwhata or other tangata whenua prior to or during the 2004-2006 transfer of ownership into the Manfeild Park Trust.
As answered in Question 3, a bona fide market freehold purchase of the property from the Feilding Jockey Club enables Council to dispose of the property without any requirement for direct consultation between Council and Ngāti Kauwhata. Therefore, it does not appear there were any direct consultation processes undertaken between Council and Ngāti Kauwhata. However, there was public consultation in relation to the establishment of Manfield Park Trust as detailed in the next answer.
Q5. Any documents that relate to the formation of the Manfeild Park Trust, including Deed of Trust and related council resolutions.
- The extract from the MDC Strategic Planning and Policy Committee Order Paper presented 24 June 2003 to Council at the public part of the meeting is a full some paper which describes the steps taken and resolutions for progressing the establishment of a single entity for the governance and management of Manfeild Park. Note the appendices are draft unsigned documents.
The resolution was passed as detailed in the paper, being:
- THAT the Heads of Agreement (Appendix A), Trust Deed (Appendix B), Draft Bill amending Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act 1908 (Appendix C), Position Description for Manfeild Park Trustee (Appendix D) and Person Specification for Manfeild Park Trustee (Appendix E), be received.
- THAT Council agrees to initiate Special Consultative Procedure (SCP) under the Local Government Act 2002, the elements of SCP being the statement of proposal, the summary statement of proposal, public notice and submissions.
- Trust Deed Manfeild Park Trust, 13 August 2004 - superseded
- Manfeild Park Deed of Agreement Parties, 24 September 2004
- Council resolution approving amendment and change of Trust Deed, 28 July 2015
- Revised Trust Deed, 11 September 2015
- Council resolution approving variation to Trust Deed, 23 August 2018
- Variation to Trust Deed, August 2018
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2362
Date received: 19/06/2025
Requested information: A list of all construction related projects approved, commissioned, or completed by MDC between 1 January 2020 and 1 July 2025, with a total cost under $500,000.
Status: Complete
Response:
I refer to your official information request dated 19 June 2025 and our request of 14 July 2025 for your request to be refined (see email below).
As we have not received a response from you, we are refusing your request under section 17(f) of the LGOIMA, due to the substantial amount of work that would be required to research and collate the information you have requested, as detailed.
We would be happy to receive an amended or clarified request, this would be treated as a new request for the purpose of calculating the maximum statutory time frame.
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2360
Date received: 08/06/2025
Requested information: Information about campground lease costs
Status: Complete
Response:
The information you have requested is below:
The campgrounds Leased from Council in our district are:
Himatangi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park and Tangimoana Motor Camp .
The Lease fees range from 2.5% - 4% percentage of Gross Revenue .
At the campground with the 2.5% Lease Fee, the Buildings/Improvements are owned by Lessee.
At the campground with the 4% Lease Fee, the Buildings are owned by Council.