Chief ombudsman Peter Boshier says he wants to hear from residents who have views to share on Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) commitment to openness and transparency.

Peter announced last week he plans to investigate official information practices at QLDC, as well as two other councils and two council-controlled trading organisations (CCTOs).

The investigations are part of a regular programme of looking at local authorities’ practice of and compliance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

Peter said he will conduct surveys of staff at each organisation and members of the public as part of this work.

As in all investigations, he will be looking for “examples of good practice and areas that can be improved”, including whether the leadership of each organisation has established a “culture of openness”.

Peter will also look at whether staff responsible for responding to official information requests have been given the right training and guidance, and look at meeting practices including informal meetings and workshops where relevant.

“Council is fully supportive of being one of the agencies participating in this latest round of a routine process,” a QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App. 

“[We] look forward to any insights or possible opportunities to improve our internal processes that result.”

Queenstown Lakes residents who would like to complete a survey on the topic - which might be residents who have requested information from the council, or attended a public workshop, meeting or informal meeting organised by the council - can do so here.

The QLDC spokesperson said the council will also promote the survey on its channels. 

Wellington City Council and Marlborough District Council will also be part of the investigation, as will CCTOs Auckland Transport and Wellington Water.

Peter said he had investigated 18 councils since he started the work in 2018.

PHOTO: Supplied