Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Dunedin council puts more information online

Updated at 6:10 am on 27 October 2012

Dunedin City Council has begun publishing its responses to official information requests online - the first in the country to do so.

Like all authorities, the council receives dozens of official information requests a month from ratepayers, the news media, public organisations and Members of Parliament.

Many are multiple requests for the same information, creating double-handling for council staff, and are only selectively made public.

The council's governance manager, Sandy Graham, says from now on every response with a public interest will be available on the Dunedin City Council website.

It is part of a wider transparency drive at the council which has already shifted large parts of its meetings from closed-door sessions to the public agenda, and will soon begin publishing its credit card spending records online.

Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem says she is delighted with the council's move and hopes it will spread to other councils.

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