LGOIMA Requests

Date received: 26/08/2026

Requested information: Details about surrendered dog - Request for information regarding a German Shepherd surrendered to MDC Animal Control in late April 2026.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 28/08/2026

Response:

The dog in question was euthanised on 21 April 2026 at 1:00 pm at Hunterville Vet Club following an assessment that determined he was unsuitable for rehoming.

The decision was based on concerns identified through the behavioural assessment and documented pound records. The primary concerns included poor manners, nipping behaviour, multiple complaints relating to roaming, and other behaviours recorded on the pound sheets and assessment form.

Following consideration of the information available and the outcome of the assessment, Milo was euthanised on the above date and time.

Date received: 25/08/2026

Requested information: Property Sales Data - A request for information detailing from 2016 to 2026, the number of houses the council has sold under Section 77 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.

Status: Complete

Response:

I refer to your official information request dated 25 August 2026.

Date received: 25/08/2026

Requested information: Resource Consent Request - Requesting a list of active consents for NZTA

Status: Complete

Date responded: 28/08/2026

Response:

Further to your information request.

The information is contained in this link - NZTA Transit Active Consent List

Date received: 25/08/2026

Requested information: Property Sales Data - A request for information detailing the number of houses sold by the council each year from 2016 to 2026 under Section 77 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002, which relates to property sales due to non-payment of rates.

Status: With Subject Matter Expert

Date received: 24/08/2026

Requested information: MOU Information Request - A request for all records and communications related to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between five district councils regarding the regional response to the Government's Simplifying Local Government process.

Status: Transferred

Date received: 23/08/2026

Requested information: Animal Control Funding - A request for detailed information regarding the funding of Animal Control activities by Manawatū District Council, and the current intended funding split for the 2026/27 financial year.

Status: Commenced

Date received: 21/08/2026

Requested information: Rates Relief Request - A request for information on the total value of rates relief sought this year, the number and combined value of deferment requests received this year, and a comparison of these figures against the last five years, including changes in value and volume, with year-on-year comparisons presented in both absolute numbers and percentage terms.

Status: Commenced

Date received: 20/08/2026

Requested information: Playground Safety Assessment - Further questions - Further questions following LGOIMA response - will Council obtain an independent assessment, and if not, why?

Status: With Subject Matter Expert

Date received: 19/08/2026

Requested information: Pedestrian Crossing Audit - Request for Council policies or frameworks governing how pedestrian crossings are audited and prioritised, including the use of crash data, geographic and crossing-type coverage, proposed changes, and confirmation where no such policies exist.

Status: With Subject Matter Expert

Date received: 18/08/2026

Requested information: Request for all council costs associated with the Government’s Head Start initiative from 5 May 2026 until the council’s response to the Government, including consultancy, consultation, meeting, workshop, and other related expenses.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 27/08/2026

Response:

1. What was the total cost to the council for of all activities and work undertaken to develop and finalise its response to the Government’s Head Start local government initiative? For clarification purposes, this request is for the total cost or the best estimate of the total cost to the council of the Head Start initiative. Points 2-5 below are for components of this total.

All items in response to the below questions are inclusive of GST.

Total cost (including GST): $13,778.85.

This figure does not include internal staff time, for the reasons outlined in response to question 5.

2. What consultants and contractors were engaged to advise or provided information or analysis for the council’s response to Head Start and what was the cost of each provider’s services? What were the titles of any reports provided by these consultants or contractors?

Morrison Low Advisory Ltd provided a report in June 2026 called “Head Start Pathway Horizons councils”. We contributed to the cost of this report, and work leading up to it, as below:

• $3,012.95 – relating to the facilitation of a Mayoral Forum on the Head Start pathway, and working on the scoping of a detailed report.
• $6,037.53 – direct contribution cost towards the completed report.

Little and Loud assisted with communication during a period of staff absence. They attended a regular Workshop meeting where the Head Start pathway was discussed, and drafted a public news item on it:

• $2,081.62

3. What was the total cost to the council for informing or consulting with local communities and how much was spent on surveys, advertising, informational publications (flyers, pamphlets, etc.), public meetings, websites and other such activities.

Newspaper adverts:

• $1,725

Radio advertising:

• $921.75

4. What was the total cost of any extraordinary or special council meetings or workshops held regarding Head Start or the council’s response to it?

No costs associated with these.

5. What other costs were incurred by the council under this initiative and what was the value of those costs?

No other direct costs have been identified. Council has not attempted to quantify internal staff time, as most roles do not record time against individual projects and the work associated with Head Start was largely undertaken as part of business-as-usual activities.