Fisher Wang: Rotorua Lakes Councillor on transparency in local democracy

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Oct 24, 2023 · 4m

A Rotorua Councillor says they'll be more transparent with the public, but some meetings need to be confidential.

A Chief Ombudsman review of eight councils has found some have effectively closed workshops to the public for invalid reasons.

It followed complaints they were undermining local democracy by making decisions away from the public eye.

Rotorua Lakes Councillor Fisher Wang told Kate Hawkesby that the community should also expect the council to be fully informed.

He says that means sometimes they have to meet and discuss things behind closed doors when the topic is of a confidential…