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Taxpayers' Union defends validity of OIA requests that cost $60k

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 12 Apr 2021, 9:43AM
Taxpayers' Union spokesperson Jordan Williams and Hamilton City Councillor, Dave Macpherson. (Photo / RNZ)
Taxpayers' Union spokesperson Jordan Williams and Hamilton City Councillor, Dave Macpherson. (Photo / RNZ)

Taxpayers' Union defends validity of OIA requests that cost $60k

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 12 Apr 2021, 9:43AM

A dispute over the validity of large numbers of OIA requests is brewing in Hamilton. 

Hamilton city councillor Dave Macpherson says 58 Official Information Act requests from the Taxpayers' Union have cost his council over $61,000.

Taxpayers Union director Jordan Williams told Mike Hosking a majority of the requests are for a vital ratepayers report.

"When councillors are complaining about it and trying to get back at us when we're exposing waste in the council, that's a sign we're doing a good job."

But councillor Macpherson told Mike Hosking council's are becoming increasingly transparent - with OIA's becoming less necessary.

"We have far less items in public excluding then we ever did in the past. Other councils are heading the same way." 

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