LGOIMA Request Details

The information you have requested is below and in this link – LG_2293_Release_of_information.zip

1. The total number of staff sent to courses run by wall walks in each of the last three years. Please break down number of staff sent by year.  
2022 – 19 staff attended one Wall Walk course. 
2023 – 31 staff attended the Wall Walk over three different courses. 
2024 – 27 staff attended the Wall Walk over two different courses.  

2. Please indicate what course/workshop/training each staff member was involved in is called.  
The training course is called The Wall Walk. 

3. The total amount spent on sending staff to Wall Walks courses over the last three years. Please break the total amount spent on sending staff to Wall Walks courses down by year.  
The Wall Walk is a collaborative activity that we have run with other Councils. This ensures cost efficiency for all involved and makes it easier to maintain the number of participants without compromising customer service.  Total costs for Wall Walks, including venue, over the past three years are as follows: 
2022 Manawatu District Council total cost for 19 staff on one course                     $1532.34 
2023 Manawatu District Council total cost for 31 staff over three courses             $2833.25 
2024 Manawatu District Council total cost for 27 staff over two courses                $3110.56 
Total                                                                                                                            $7,476.15  

4. The value of any other funding provided to wall walks, broken down by date, funding purpose, office location and amount.  
There was $Nil funding provided to Wall Walks other than those shown in Response 3. 

5. Please provide emails, reports, messages or any other correspondence for the reasoning of staff being sent on these courses and specify whether participation in these courses was compulsory or not. 
Attendance on Wall Walks was encouraged via Managers, email and internal webpages; at no time was it made a compulsory. A copy of a typical email to participants is provided. See documents in link 

6. Please provide a copy of documentation including but not limited to emails, reports, messages or any other correspondence that explains the content included in the course or description of activities undertaken through wall walks, or any associated courses/training. 
A Word copy of an email to participants is provided as are the documents sent to those participants.  Note that the internal documents are guided by the material provided by the Wall Walk; which are also provided. See documents in the link 

7. Please provide emails, reports, messages or any other correspondence for any measurable outcomes from your agency attending Wall Walk courses.  
We do not formally measure outcomes for the Wall Walk however verbal feedback received always centres around the amount of new information that our people have learnt from researching their topic and listening to the presentations delivered by other groups and the Wall Walk presenter.  People will often say that they wished that they had been taught our own history, warts and all, at school instead of historical matters that mean nothing to us as a nation.   

These comments reinforce why we send people to the Wall Walk. This training is essential for ensuring that our staff understand and respect the unique context in which we operate, and it aligns with our responsibility to foster positive community relationships and deliver effective services.   

The "Wall Walk" training provides council staff with a deeper understanding of the bi-cultural history of New Zealand, including the Treaty of Waitangi and its relevance to both Māori and non-Māori communities. This training equips our staff with the knowledge and skills needed to: 

• Respect cultural values and customs, ensuring that our services are inclusive and sensitive to the needs of all communities. 
• Promote understanding between different cultural groups in our district, contributing to social cohesion. 
• Build meaningful relationships with Māori stakeholders and iwi, strengthening community partnerships.  

As a local council, we have an obligation to deliver services that meet the needs of our diverse community. By attending the "Wall Walk" training, our staff gain insights into: 

• Historical grievances and current perspectives which help us better understand the needs and aspirations of Māori in our region. 
• Culturally appropriate service delivery by ensuring that our interactions with Māori and other cultural groups are respectful, inclusive, and effective. 
• Building stronger community ties, which leads to improved trust and engagement with our services.  

We believe that our investment in this training will have long-term benefits for our district: 

• Building trust, by fostering a better understanding of bi-cultural history, our staff can build stronger relationships with Māori and other communities, leading to more collaborative and productive partnerships. 
• Inclusive policies and initiatives: With a solid foundation in cultural competency, staff can develop policies and projects that are inclusive and beneficial to all, reducing social divides and enhancing community wellbeing.  

The "Wall Walk" training is a vital investment in the professional development of our staff, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge to engage meaningfully with Māori and support positive bi-cultural relationships. This directly contributes to better service delivery, social cohesion, and the fulfilment of our legal obligations under the RMA and Treaty of Waitangi, all of which are essential for our role in the community.   

We believe this investment is not only responsible but essential to our role in fostering an inclusive, effective, and forward-looking council.