LGOIMA Requests

Date received: 30/07/2026

Requested information: A request for 2024 building consent application data, including consent details and Requests for Information (RFI) records.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 06/08/2026

Response:

In relation to your request for certain building consent information for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, we are able to provide a report identifying:

Building consent number;
Requests for Information (RFIs); and
A description of each RFI.

However, we are unable to provide the RFI category and application type requested.

This information is not recorded in a format that can be readily extracted from our systems. Providing this information would require the manual review of individual building consent records and the manual compilation of the requested data. As a result, this part of your request would require substantial collation or research.

Accordingly, this part of your request is refused under section 17(f) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 on the grounds that the information requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or research.

In accordance with section 17A of the LGOIMA, we considered whether extending the timeframe for responding to your request or imposing a charge would enable the request to be granted. We concluded that neither option would overcome the need for substantial manual review and collation of individual consent records and therefore would not make the request reasonably able to be met.

Personal details (names, addresses, contact details, etc) of third parties, which have been withheld under section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA, to protect their privacy. 

I do not consider that those persons’ privacy interests are outweighed by the public interest in the information’s release. Information withheld pursuant to this section will be redacted in the relevant documents and marked as such. 

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.  

Yours sincerely, 

Date received: 30/07/2026

Requested information: Documents relating to the most recent Alcohol licence application or renewal for Bottle-O Sanson, including application, assessment, decision, licence, and any hearing-related records.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 18/08/2026

Response:

Official information request - Documents relating to the most recent Alcohol licence application or renewal for Bottle-O Sanson, including application, assessment, decision, licence, and any hearing-related records.

I refer to your official information request dated 30/07/2026

Please find the relevant documents as, requested in link below, there was no hearing for this application.

Personal details (names, addresses, contact details, etc) of third parties, which have been withheld under section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA, to protect their privacy. 

I do not consider that those persons’ privacy interests are outweighed by the public interest in the information’s release. Information withheld pursuant to this section will be redacted in the relevant documents and marked as such. 

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.  

Yours sincerely,

Date received: 27/07/2026

Requested information: Toilet Facilities Request - A request for information on all publicly accessible council-owned or maintained toilet facilities, including locations, accessibility features, and available amenities.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 12/08/2026

Response:

Official information request -information on all publicly accessible council-owned or maintained toilet facilities, including locations, accessibility features, and available amenities.

I refer to your official information request dated 27/07/2026

The information you have requested is provided via the link below

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: 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: Complete

Date responded: 19/08/2026

Response:

Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 request – Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park Trust

Thank you for your email dated 23 July 2026. We have treated your request as seeking:

a copy of the Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park Trust’s accounts for April 2026;
information about the maintenance arrangements and ongoing restoration work, including the wetland planting, for Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park.

April 2026 accounts

Attached is the Trust’s approved financial report for the period ending 30 April 2026. Please note that these are the routine end-of-month management accounts and not the Audited Accounts relating to the dissolution of the Trust.

Maintenance of the park and ongoing restoration work

Following the dissolution of the Trust, responsibility reverted to Council who has continued to contract Green By Nature (GBN) for restoration advice, and the provision of both maintenance and new work in the park and Forest.

Pleasingly, a contract is now in place between Council and GBN. The contract was formed with input from the Trust, who had been operating without a contract with GBN for some time. You may also be aware that GBN will subcontract Ngāti Kauwhata for specific contract work.

Your concerns about the effect of the dissolution on donors and community volunteers have been noted. As stated publicly, Council is committed to preserving and maintaining this special taonga so future generations can enjoy the legacy created through years of dedicated community effort and investment made by the Trust, Council and other funders. We acknowledge your longstanding considerable contribution to the Trust and this special area.

Maintenance activities at Awahuri Forest Kitchener Park are level of service based for the different aspects of vegetation maintenance, litter bin services, cleaning, inspections and reporting, etc. For the activities that are carried out daily or weekly there are resource allocations that are intended to capture the average effort required over the course of a full year. For these weekly service activities there are 23 hours of labour allocated. In addition, there are mowing and inspection activities that are scheduled to take place fortnightly, monthly, quarterly and annually.

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: 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: Complete

Date responded: 13/08/2026

Response:

Date received: 14/07/2026

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

Status: Complete

Date responded: 17/08/2026

Response:

Official information request for meeting minutes and information relating to Feilding Civic Centre Trust

I refer to your official information request dated 14 July 2026 to Manawatū District Council (Council) under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1986 (LGOIMA), which read:

1. May I please have copies of the minutes of the Feilding Civic Centre Trust Board meetings for the last nine (9) months

2. Could you please provide me with the details of any correspondence, meetings, and any discussions that have occurred in the last nine (9) months among elected members, and/or managers, and/or other staff relating to the Feilding Civic Centre Trust as a Council Controlled Organisation, or prior to that point during the past six (6) months. In particular, but not exclusively, any plans that may have been proposed and/or discussed about the management and administration of the Feilding Civic Centre being taken over entirely, or partly, by the District Council.

On 19 July 2026, we sought clarification on the date range you were requesting. You confirmed that the second part of your request was intended to cover the 12-month period preceding your request (that is, 14 July 2025 to 14 July 2026).

Part of the information you have requested is provided alongside this covering letter. However, we have decided to withhold some information otherwise captured by your request:

• We have redacted some contact details for individuals which would otherwise be captured by the scope your request under section 7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
• Three documents have been withheld in full under section 7(2)(c)(ii) of the LGOIMA, to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence where release would be likely to damage the public interest.
• Two documents have been withheld in full under section 7(2)(f)(i) of the LGOIMA, to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to members or officers or employees of Council in the course of their duty.
• Two documents have been withheld in full under section 7(2)(g) of the LGOIMA to maintain legal professional privilege.

In relation to all the information withheld, we consider that withholding is necessary for the reasons stated, and that any public interest in release does not outweigh the relevant withholding reason.

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

Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information requests where possible. Our response to your request will be published shortly at https://www.mdc.govt.nz/contact-us/official-information-requests-lgoima/lgoima-requests, with your personal information removed.

Yours sincerely

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,