South Wairarapa District Council has adopted a new Local Government Official Information Act (LGOIMA) Charging and Proactive Release Policy for official information requests under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. 

The new policy was adopted by Council on 25 June 2026. Its purpose is to ensure any charges for supplying official information are reasonable, transparent and consistently applied. It ensures information is made available, unless there is a reason to withhold it. 

The new policy applies to all official information requests under LGOIMA, except individuals requesting their own personal information, which remains free. 

Charges are purely for the actual and reasonable costs of making information available. They do not apply to decision making or overheads. 

The first hour of staff time and the first 20 pages of photocopying or printing are free. Following that, labour is charged at $38 per half-hour, with additional pages or materials charged at set rates. 

Charges may be reduced or waived for public interest, hardship, for MPs and accredited news media. 

The new LGOIMA Charging and Proactive Release Policy is available to read on the Council website.